State benefits, pensions and related manuals

Child benefit

In certain circumstances, receiving the child benefit can result in a tax charge. This article looks at ways to reduce or eliminate the charge.

• Child benefit - can you avoid the tax charge?

Contracting out

Since 6 April 2012, it has not been possible to contract out of the State Second Pension (S2P) using a money purchase or appropriate personal pension/stakeholder plan.  Since 6 April 2016, it has not been possible to contract out of S2P using a defined benefit scheme.

• Contracting out of the State Second Pension
• The State Second Pension explained

Guidance on charging for residential accommodation

Local Authorities may charge for the care they provide or arrange in residential care homes. The level of financial support they will give for this care can be affected by income provided, or that could be provided, from a pension plan.

England & Wales -  Care and support statutory guidance

Northern Ireland - Guidance on Charging for Residential Accommodation

Scotland - Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance

HMRC manuals

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) produce a number of manuals for their staff. The guidance contained in these manuals is not comprehensive nor will it provide a definitive answer in every case.

• Business Income Manual
• Inheritance Tax Manual
• Pensions Tax Manual
• Trusts, Settlements and Estates Manual

HMRC newsletters

Periodically HMRC issue Pension Schemes Newsletters. These cover almost anything to do with pensions and contain useful information.

• HMRC Pension Schemes newsletters

Pension Credit

Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) factsheet and guide on Pension Credit benefit.

• Pension Credit extra information
• PC10S – A Detailed Guide to Pension Credit for Advisers and Others

State pensions

Basic State Pension

The basic State Pension has been replaced by the new state pension. People who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 will receive the Basic State Pension.

• Basic State Pension

New State Pension

The new State Pension replaced the basic State Pension in April 2016. Existing benefits will be protected.

• Deferring the state pension – how does it work, and is it worthwhile?
• New State Pension
• State pension transition

State pension calculators - GOV.UK

• Check your State Pension age
• Check your State Pension

State Pension factsheets

The DWP have produced a number of new State Pension factsheets.

• Your State Pension explained
• State Pension fact sheets
• New State Pension Transition and Contracting-Out
• State Pension Deferral - if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
• House of Commons briefing papers - State Pensions 2021: FAQs for MPs

State Pensions for women

Women born before 6 April 1953 may be able to claim an increase to their basic State Pension based on their spouse’s or civil partner’s contribution record.

• State Pensions for women

State Pension guide

When the new state pension was introduced for those reaching pension age from 6th April 2016 it was intended to be much simpler than the system it replaced. In this guide we aim to explain how the new pension works, and how much you could expect to receive.

• The new State Pension - your questions answered