I am told that the authorities understand that if you lose your job aged about 62 then you have little chance of getting another one, and they will pay something similar to your pension without needing to sign on, until your real pension is due. Is this true? If so, is it dependant on being sacked rather than choosing to leave the job? Is it also available to the self-employed? My informant wasn't clear on details but didn't think it was means tested, so presumably it is something other than Pension Credit? I am asking to see if it might be something I should suggest to a friend. He is a sole trader with a small workshop whose work has almost dried up, and he is struggling to stay in business.
Aged 60 to 65
Nov 23, 2010
5 Replies
Over 60 you may be entitled to means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, depending on your income.
No.
Yes.
See above.
See:
formatting link
If you are sixty or over, you may be able to claim means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, depending on your income.
If you are a man, you can claim one of these benefits once you've reached the state pension age of a woman with the same date of birth as you.
You may be confusing this with the rule wherby, if you are over 60 and not working you receive NI credits for your pension automatically without having pass the test to be able to sign on.
Though this is pretty much moot now that the qualifying requirement has been reduced from 43 years to 30 (for a man)
It's available as a right regardless of the reason for your not working
The above is not worth any "real" money so no reason to give up work
tim
formatting link
>
Thank you. That site gives nice clear advice but is short on actual figures. I gather that means tested benefits are a nightmare for the self-employed, so I shall do a bit more digging.
Which I missed by months. :-(
Ouch!
(though irrelevant for the thread because that requires the person to currently be
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required