People are being cautioned about benefits they will no longer be eligible to claim once they reach State Pension age. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) revealed that nearly 12.7 million people across Britain rely on State Pension for financial support.

This payment can amount to as much as £221.20 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016). Alternatively, people can receive £169.50 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B), reports the Daily Record.

The amount someone gets from this contributory benefit depends on the number of National Insurance years they have accumulated before reaching the current retirement age of 66. A minimum of ten years is required to qualify for any State Pension payment.

For older people nearing the official retirement age, it's vital to understand which benefits will continue. It is also helpful to know new ones you may be eligible for, and those you can no longer submit a new claim for.

Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before December 6, 1953. You can check your State Pension age and whether you can start claiming Pension Credit on the 'Check your State Pension age' page of the GOV.UK website here.

Pension Credit age

When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit

Turn2us advises: "If you live with a partner and one of you is pension age and the other is not yet pension age, benefit entitlement can be complicated." Use the Turn2us benefit calculator to see what benefits you're entitled to, or get help from a benefits adviser.

State Pension age

When you reach State Pension age you can no longer claim:

• Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Contributory/New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - the new devolved disability benefit has replaced all new claims for PIP for people in Scotland - once you have reached State Pension age.

However, if you were already receiving DLA, PIP or ADP you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age. This can only be done as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions you received the award for and your last claim ended less than 12 months before you reached State Pension age.

The DWP has said DLA claimants who were born before April 8, 1948, will not be transferred to PIP, however, those born after that date will be. Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance are also not available once you reach State Pension age.

Benefits not affected by your State Pension age

You can claim these benefits 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)

You can also claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age, but only if you meet the benefit-specific income threshold:

• Pension Credit
• 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
• Help with Health Costs
• Cold Weather Payment - now replaced by new Winter Heating Payment in Scotland
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter Fuel Payment