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The most recent data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that the State Pension is now delivering vital financial assistance to 13.2 million people throughout Great Britain.

This regular payment is now worth up to £241.30 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £184.90 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B). The amount a person receives from this contributory benefit is determined by the number of National Insurance years accumulated prior to reaching retirement age - a minimum of 10 years is required to qualify for any State Pension payment. It's crucial to note that the qualifying age has now begun rising from 66 to 67.

The UK Government has also amended the manner in which the increase in State Pension age is phased, so rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 will be able to claim the State Pension once they reach 67.

The proposed adjustment to the official retirement age has been enshrined in legislation since 2014, with a further rise from 67 to 68 scheduled for implementation in the mid-2040s, reports the Daily Record.

For older people approaching the official retirement age, it's essential to understand which benefits will remain available, which new ones they may now be entitled to claim, and those for which new applications are no longer accepted. Your State Pension age matches your Pension Credit qualifying age unless you are a man born before 6 December, 1953. You can verify your State Pension age and whether you can begin claiming Pension Credit on the 'Check your State Pension age' page of the GOV.UK website here.

Turn2us has produced an essential guide to the benefits you cannot claim from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when you reach State Pension age or Pension Credit age. For complete details on each of the topics listed below, visit the Turn2us website here.

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 warns: "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 determine your benefit entitlement, or seek assistance from a benefits adviser.

Full New State Pension

• Weekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)
• Four-weekly pay period: £965.20
• Annual amount: £12,547

Full Basic State Pension

• Weekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)
• Four-weekly pay period: £739.60
• Annual amount: £9,614

Other State Pension rates

• Category B (lower) Basic State Pension - spouse or civil Partner's insurance: £110.75 (from £105.70)
• Category C or D - non-contributory: £110.75 (from £105.70)

The new payment rates will start on April 6.

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 submit a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) once you have reached State Pension age. However, if you were already in receipt of DLA, PIP, or ADP, you are able to renew your claim even after reaching State Pension age. This is only permitted provided you are claiming for the identical health conditions for which you previously received the award, and your last claim concluded less than 12 months before you reached State Pension age.

Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent's Allowance are likewise unavailable once you reach 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
• Help with Health Costs
• Winter Heating Payment - Scotland only
• Cold Weather Payment - England and Wales only
• Warm Home Discount Scheme
• Winter Fuel Payment

For more details about benefits when you reach State Pension age, visit the Turn2Us website here.