IB TO ESA IF RETIREMENT AGE BEFORE MARCH 31 2014

If you reach retirement age prior to 31st March 2014 you will not have to go through being transferred to ESA as DWP consider people have enough to contend with without this transfer. I applied for a pension forecast and found my retirement date will be July 2014. I queried this through my MP as the comment had been made by the government that no-one would have to wait more than 18 months to get their pension from the original date. On querying this further through my MP I have been told by the Dep Pensions Minister that in 1995 There was a new Pensions Act. At this time unbeknown to me I was given a retirement date of July 2014 even though I was 60 in May this year 2012. This is more than 18 months after my 60th birthday. He also went on to state that the wording no more than waiting 18 months is my retirement date will not be more than 18 months from the date they decided in 1995. So a few days before my birthday in May I received a form to complete in relation to transferring from IB to ESA. I followed your advice to the letter and took 4 weeks to complete the form. Today I have a letter. I have been put in the Work Activity Group. This hits hard on two fronts. If I had a retirement date before March 31 2012 I would have been transferred automatically. So be careful this may be happening to lots of us on IB. This decision has already had a dramatic effect on my health. Is there anyone else whose pension date was set by this act in 1995 ?

ditto! almost identical circumstances. my letter was sent out dated with my birthday date on it (60). I have awaiting reply to my esa form. it doesn't seem fair that we have to go through this process although I appreciate there has to be a cut off point. On the plus side I suppose there is light at the end of the tunnel. I pity those poor folk who were born a year later (1953) as it affects them greatly in terms of pension age. It has had a detrimental effect on my own health to a large degree and no doubt as you say there will be a lot more like us.

Hi i was born in 1953, and yes you,re right it has affected my pension age greatly, i will now not retire till March 2018, i will be almost 65.



Chrissy V

I am 'lucky' in that I am still able to retire at 65 (5 years later than originally expected) rather than having to wait until I am 66!

Not only this, but the government have reserved the right to extend the retirement age further.I have already had the dates extended twice, originally expected to retire at 60. I was born in 1953, and not a happy bunny.