ESA and Occupational pension

I have a query from a client, she is 60 years old and in receipt of ESA and PIP, does she have to take her occupational pension at present time, she is still unable to return to work at this time.

Thanks

Morning. She will need to read up, as all schemes are different. Her pension provider(s) will have a website with sections on ‘deferred’ pensions [ones that are kept from old employers after you have left], and ‘retirement due to ill-health’ pensions. If she has medically retired from work, she will/ should receive enhancements which will add employer contributions up to state retirement age (depending on her length of service/ scheme). If she has a ‘deferred pension’ she can draw it early but it won’t be enhanced. She may have both depending on numbers of past employers/ pension schemes.
Any money she receives will be ‘taken off’ her ESA as stated below. She is allowed to keep lump sums and they are not counted as income for 12 months (if I remember right). She can have 6K in savings and still claim ESA.
She should also ask the DWP for a pension forecast as SERPS are disappearing.