How will my retirement affect the benefits that I receive?
Q. I currently receive Reduced Earnings Allowance and I am due to retire, I have had confirmation from the DWP that this benefit will end when I reach State Pension Age. I also get Industrial Injuries Benefit, this was a lifetime disability assessment and I believe the disability assessment was 20%.
A. You should not lose the Reduced Earnings Allowance but instead it will convert to Retirement Allowance (unless you are still in employment and if so you are entitled to still get Reduced Earnings Allowance).
Retirement Allowance is paid at a lower rate than REA, this is either 25% of your current RE A amount or £18.20, whichever of these two figures is the lower amount.
Your Industrial Injuries Benefit will continue to be paid at the current rate as it isn’t affected by your age and is a lifetime assessment.
Q. My daughter has recently moved in with me and I plan to claim Child Benefit as well as an increase to my current Universal Credit claim but my expartner has advised she won’t withdraw the claim she cur - rently has. I am worried that without additional money I won’t be able to support her. What should I do in this situation?
A. We would advise that you submit the Child Benefit claim, if there is a dispute as to who the qualifying parent is then this matter will be decided by a decision maker at the DWP and thus who should be paid the Child Benefit. There is also a similar process for the increase in Universal Credit if your ex also happens to claim this or a legacy benefit such as Tax Credits.
In the situation you have described as your daughter is living with you all of the time then you would normally have priority over you ex-partner.
She would continue to get Child Benefit for three weeks following the date you submit your claim and then the payments will transfer from the fourth week you make the claim.
For Universal Credit they will normally abide by the findings of the Child Benefit office, but again you won’t see an increase until at the very least your next assessment period.
Citizens Advice is a network of 316 charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems.