State pensioners hit with age increase for weekly DWP top-ups | Personal Finance | Finance

An ongoing age increase this year will delay eligibility for weekly top-ups from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for state pensioners on a low income.

The State Pension age in the UK is legislated to rise from age 66 to 67 over a two year period, which got underway on April 6 and is due to complete in 2028. The DWP has set out a timetable for this age increase so that it is implemented gradually over the two-year time frame. This timetable effectively increases the State Pension age in one month increments until it is complete, which has a knock-on effect for when people become eligible to start claiming their State Pension and other pension age related benefits – like Pension Credit.

Pension Credit is a key financial benefit for pensioners on a low income, providing extra money to help with living costs that is paid separately to the State Pension.

But the DWP confirmed to the Express that the qualifying age for Pension Credit is linked to State Pension age, which “means it is rising in line with the increase in State Pension age and is currently 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on an individual’s birthday.”

The amount of time pensioners will have to wait after their 66th birthday before they become eligible to claim Pension Credit depends on when their birthday falls, with some being only a month or two away from their 67th birthday by the time they can claim their first payment.

The State Pension age increase affects anyone born after April 6, 1960, with those born closer to this date due to reach State Pension age sooner.

For those born between May 6, 1960 and June 5, 1960, State Pension age will be reached in July or early August when they are exactly 66 years and two months old, at which point they can also start claiming Pension Credit if they’re on a low income.

But for those with 66th birthdays after these dates, the point at which they become eligible for State Pension age benefits is even longer.

The DWP timetable delays the point at which the State Pension can be claimed in one month increments, so pensioners with a 66th birthday this month that falls between July 6 and August 5 will have to wait an extra four months after their birthday until they can start getting payments. And the same applies for claiming Pension Credit payments.

For example, if you were born on July 6, 1960, then you will become eligible to claim your State Pension, and in turn Pension Credit if you’re on a low income, on November 6, 2026, when you are exactly 66 years and four months old.

The DWP has confirmed the following timetable for the increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, which shows when people with birthdays between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961 can claim their State Pension, and in turn Pension Credit in England, Scotland and Wales:

The DWP said: “The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 forward by eight years. The State Pension age for men and women will now increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

“The Government also changed the way in which the increase in State Pension age is phased so that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.

” For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.”

Following a 4.8% uplift at the start of the new tax year on April 6, Pension Credit is now worth £4,300 per year on average.

For single pensioners, the benefit tops up your weekly income to £238 and or your joint weekly income to £363.25 if you have a partner, but it also unlocks access to a swathe of other financial perks, including free TV licences, a Council Tax reduction, help with heating costs and some NHS treatments.