Pension Credit or UC

Sighs, we’ve also been made aware that gov.uk Universal Credit page has now been amended to state:

If you’re over Pension Credit qualifying age, you can claim Universal Credit or Pension Credit as a couple if you have a partner who’s under Pension Credit qualifying age. From 1 February 2019 most couples will not be able to claim Pension Credit until both partners have reached Pension Credit qualifying age.

We’re going to check again about what’s happening.

Yes just saw that myself - will also email my contacts…

If DWP is going to give priority to being mean to mixed-aged couples rather than helping people who are losing/have lost SDP on the now-extended UC timetable, this could plumb new depths.

Just had an email through which says -

10:34am, 17 December 2018: Removed information about people over Pension Credit qualifying age published in error on 17 December 2018.

see attached screenshot

So it’s not happening again!

Image Attachments

Click thumbnail to see full-size image

Absurd doesn’t come near it…..

The question is - are they making the change public before they intended to, rather than someone inventing the date for the change in a couple of different places?

TP45 - 17 December 2018 09:06 AM

If you’re over Pension Credit qualifying age, you can claim Universal Credit or Pension Credit as a couple if you have a partner who’s under Pension Credit qualifying age. From 1 February 2019 most couples will not be able to claim Pension Credit until both partners have reached Pension Credit qualifying age.

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families

Hi TP 45

I couldn’t find any references to 1st Feb on the page you’ve just shared - it says this but nothing underneath about any changes to the rules.

‘If you’re over Pension Credit qualifying age, you can claim if you have a partner who’s under Pension Credit qualifying age.’ 

Tina

PS just seen Daphne’s post saying it’s been removed - what a farce

HB Anorak - 14 December 2018 09:12 AM

Looks as if the i might have picked up on this thread, or otherwise become aware of the now hastily withdrawn stakeholder letter.  The reporter or a researcher contacted Age UK and since one of the regular contributors to this forum, and indeed this thread, works for Age UK I assume he would know if there is anything more definite.

I wouldn’t have thought the government needs any more unnecessary self-inflicted grief right now. On Amber Rudd’s “to do” list this is probably sitting just above “marry Jacob Rees Mogg”

the thought Amber Rudd and Jacob Rees-Mogg marrying is the stuff of nightmares - lol

I’ve just had a thought - from 1st Feb 2019 pensioners with children who are claiming PC for the first time will have child elements included in their Pension Credit instead of them having to claim Child Tax Credit.

I wonder if the increase in the applicable amounts for those who qualify for those elements will mean that more people will be entitled to PC than are currently entitled to it, so that is the reason why they might be introducing the rule to prevent mixed-age couples from claiming PC at the same time. 

Or has someone in the DWP assumed both changes will be applied at the same time?

So, the sneaky cowardly so and so’s snuck out the announcement today.

In 2012, Parliament voted to modernise the welfare system to ensure that couples, where one person is of working age and the other person is over state pension age, access support, where it is needed, through the working age benefit regime. This replaces the previous system whereby the household could access either Pension Credit and pension age Housing Benefit, or working-age benefits.

Couples with one partner under State Pension age who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit at the point of change will be unaffected while they remain entitled to either benefit.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-01-14/HCWS1249/

Press release now issued too:

Currently, couples can choose to make that transition when the older partner of the couple reaches State Pension age.

In 2012, Parliament voted to modernise the system and change the rule for couples so that the transition takes place when the younger partner reaches State Pension age. This will ensure the younger partner is in the same circumstances as other people of the same age, regardless of the age of their partner.

The government announced today that the change will be introduced from 15 May 2019.

Mixed age couples with a partner under State Pension age already in receipt of Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit at the point of change will be unaffected while they remain entitled to either benefit.

If a mixed age couple claim working age benefits, the pensioner partner will not be subject to work-based conditionality. Any work-based conditionality for the younger partner will be tailored to meet their circumstances.

More: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-benefits-for-mixed-age-couples

Plus, from gov.uk, updated versions of:

- Pension Credit factsheet
- Pension Credit toolkit

am i right in thinking there are no pensioner premiums in UC so on PC now a couple will get £1078 a month but after 15/5/19 if make a new UC claim only get £498.89?

If someone is in receipt of UC at the point that they become eligible for State Pension/Pension Credit, am assuming that they reclaim HB for housing costs rather than remain on UC (as to satisfy basic conditions for UC need to be under qualifying age for PC)?

Thanks

That’s correct :)

I’ve put up some more detailed initial thoughts about the effects of this, over the rates amounts, at https://benefitsinthefuture.com.  Notice the additions from Daphne and Gary Vaux in the comments.