Help for older people
Retirement age
In the UK, the official age of retirement is 66. Unless you are a man born before December 6 1953, your State Pension Age is the same as your Pension Credit age.
When you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age you should check the benefits you can claim from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) .
Things you can't claim
When you or your partner reach Pension Credit age, you can no longer claim:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Things you can claim
There are benefits you can claim even if you are over State Pension age:
- Child Benefit (delivered by HMRC)
- Carer’s Allowance - you may not be eligible for the full financial element depending on your income from State Pension
- Guardian’s Allowance
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Free bus pass and transport concessions (Older person's bus pass / Disabled person's bus pass)
- Free prescriptions
There are also benefits you can claim (once you're over State Pension age) if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold. These are:
- Pension Credit - The charity Independent Age can help you claim this.
- Free TV licence if you or your partner are claiming pension credit.
- Attendance Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
- Support for Mortgage Interest
- Working Tax Credit (HMRC) - you can't make new claims for this, but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it
- Child Tax Credit (HMRC)- you can't make new claims for this, but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it
- Cold Weather Payment
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Winter Fuel Payment
Other support
A new guide to keeping well during the winter - Winterwise - is now available. Created by The Greater Manchester Ageing Hub in partnership with Independent Age, a national older person’s charity, the guide includes useful information on cost of living support, and focuses on three key themes:
- Stay warm: information about the financial support that older people could access to help with rising energy costs
- Stay safe: home safety advice for older people including fire safety, how to spot and report scams, and what to do if they fall
- Stay well: tips and advice on mental health and wellbeing, eating well and keeping active
See the guide online at greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk or call 0800 319 6789 quoting Free Guide 338
The NHS website has general health and wellbeing advice about how to stay well in winter
For emergency home repairs such as no heating, if you're over 60 and / or in receipt of benefits, see what Manchester Care and Repair can help you with.
Help with energy bills
- Priority Service Register - free support from energy suppliers to support vulnerable people.