Esa or pension credit

Caroline wrote: Hello,
My husband is claiming esa and is in the assesement period. On the 6 July he will go on to a higher rate because of his age. He was 63 on the 19/14/16. I am on his claim for esa and have liver disease and I am unable to work, and I am 55 years old. Is it better to claim pension credit or better to stay on Esa? Also will the new rule about a couple with one under pension credit age having to claim UC effect us in the future?
Thanks

Forgive me, I'm not sure why you think that your husband's ESA will increase because of his age.

He should be able to claim Pension Credit on or after 6 July, whether it is better for you or not will depend on your personal circumstances, so we can't make a recommendation on the forum.

Whether you will be affected by the rule that both of you have to be of pensionable age will depend on where you are in the country and whether UC has been implemented and to what to degree. If PC claim made and accepted then it won't be directly affected by the new rule even when UC is implemented.

I would recommend that you get face to face advice from a trained advisor who can calculate what you would receive on PC or if you remain on ESA.

Failing that out your details into one of the online benefit calculators.

www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Gordon

Caroline wrote: I got a letter from dwp saying exacrly that. Because of his age we would go onto that rate. There is no mention that it is pension credit. They say it will increase to 237.55 a week and he may still need to go to work place interviews.

There is an ESA Pensioner Premium, assuming this is what they are referring to then you would be the first persons I have heard of it being paid to.

My advice to get face to face advice stands.

Gordon