Retired writer gets points and costs (8)
I believe the answer is:
expenses
'costs' is the definition.
(I know this)
'retired writer gets points' is the wordplay.
'retired' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'writer' becomes 'pen' (something which writes).
'gets' says to put letters next to each other.
'points' becomes 'ses' (SE is an example).
'ex'+'pen'+'ses'='EXPENSES'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for expenses that I've seen before include "Reimbursed monies spent in the course of work" , "Amounts incurred in the performance of work" , "may give rise to claim" , "Costs incurred on behalf of, say, employer" , "Costs incurred in the performance of one?s job" .)