From: "Andy Pandy" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Working 'til 65
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 18:42:36 +0100


 wrote in message
news:1154275921.517312.35150@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> My partner and I planned to retire this year.  He died before reaching
> this.  I am now left in a position where I have to continue working to
> be able to keep a roof over my head (other than social housing).

Why do you think that? I presume you are over 60, so if you retired you should get
the pension credit if you've not got much in savings & pension.  If you're still
paying a mortgage, you should get the mortgage interest paid as part of the pension
credit. For an estimate see:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pensioncredit/calculator/home.asp

If you're renting and get the pension credit then you should get housing benefit to
pay the rent.

> What
> are the benefits (or not) of taking my state pension now or leaving it
> until I'm 65.
>
> I've tried looking at the gov site, but can only fing information on
> gender change and pensions!!!!

Have a look here:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/statepensiondeferral/choices.asp

--
Andy