Mixed Aged Pension Credit Changes
Published on 08 April 2019 07:56 AM
AGE UK HEREFORDSHIRE & WORCESTERSHIRE URGES LOCAL RESIDENTS TO CLAIM PENSION CREDIT AND HOUSING BENEFIT NOW BEFORE GOVERNMENT CHANGES RULES IN MAY
Earlier this year the Government announced a change in the law that will see the number of pensioners in poverty soar.
We encourage all pensioners with a low income and a non-pensioner partner to put in a claim or risk missing out on upto £7,000 a year.
Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire is calling on all pensioners living on a low income with a partner of working age to urgently check their eligibility for Pension Credit and Housing Benefit and put in a claim before the Government changes the rules on the 15th May.
Who does it affect?
Mized aged couples will be affected - the changed, sneaked out the evening before the 'meaningful vote' on Brexit, will see the right to claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit withdrawn from future claimants who happen to have a partner who hasn’t yet reached their own pensionable age, with potentially devastating consequences for all those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 Herefordshire & Worcestershire is warning that this could have a devastating impact on local residents.
Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire is urging anyone who may be entitled to claim benefits to call 01905 740 950 or 0800 008 6077.
The Charity is warning that by slashing the benefits that couples needing to claim benefits in the future by as much as £7,000 a year 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 Creditas a single person than if the pair of them claim Universal Credit as a couple.
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.