Claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit Now Before Government Changes Rules in May

Age UK Cheshire is calling on all pensioners living on a low income with a partner of working age to urgently check their eligibility for ^[i]Pension Credit and Housing Benefit ^[ii] and put in a claim before the Government changes the rules on 15th May.^[iii]

The change, sneaked out the evening before the 'meaningful vote' on Brexit, will see the right to claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit - important tools in the fight against pensioner poverty - withdrawn from future claimants who happen to have a partner who hasn't yet reached their own pensionable age, with potentially devastating consequences for all those affected.Age UK Cheshire is warning that this could have a devastating impact on local residents.

Age UK Cheshire is urging anyone who may be entitled to claim benefits to call our Information & Advice service on 01244 401500

The Charity is warning that couples benefits could be slashed by as much as £7,000 a year in the future. [iv] The new policy will place some pensioners in the absurd position of being financially better off if they split up and live apart from their younger partner. This is because once the change is implemented, the older partner could be eligible for significantly more money by claiming Pension Credit as a single person than if the pair of them claim Universal Credit as a couple.

Although in theory this change will not impact on existing claimants the Charity is warning that if a so-called mixed-age couple temporarily loses their eligibility for these benefits because of a change in their personal or financial circumstances, from May they will be unable to regain it and will be thrown back onto the Universal Credit regime, the problems of which are well documented.

Over recent years the means-tested benefit systems for pensioners and people of working age have been growing further apart. Some of the main differences are:　

The amount you receive:

The standard rate of Pension Credit guarantee is paid at a higher level than the standard rate of Universal Credit and this gap has widened. Over recent years Pension Credit guarantee has been uprated, at least in line with earnings, while working age benefit levels have been frozen or increases restricted.

How any earnings are treated:

For Pension Credit, usually just £5 a week (£10 for a couple) of earnings from work are ignored after which earnings reduce payments £1 for £1. Under Universal Credit, earnings reduce benefit by a 63% taper. So, for example, if earnings rise by £100 a month, benefit reduces by £63.

Dale Maskell, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Cheshire said:

It's not at all unusual for one partner to be older than the other. So many older couples on low incomes could be affected by this policy change, even though many of them may not know it yet.

That's why we are urging any pensioner who thinks there is even the slightest chance that they could be entitled to Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit to put in a claim now rather than wait until May û it could give them as much as £7,000 more to spend a every year until the younger partner becomes a pensioner.

Any older person who is worried about money or thinks they may be entitled to claim Pension Credit or other pensioner benefits, please get in touch with us ASAP before 15th May so we can help you through the claiming process"

For more information, please contact our Information & Advice service on 01244 401500.

For other organisations that can offer help, contact:

Citizens Advice (East Cheshire) 0344 111444 

Citizens Advice (West Cheshire) 0344 5766111