Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of he rule which prevents mixed-age couples from claiming pension-age benefits until the youngest partner reaches State Pension age on the number of people in poverty.

The requirement that both members of a couple need to have reached State Pension age to be eligible for Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit was introduced by the previous conservative government from 15 May 2019. Benefit support for couples where only one partner has reached State Pension age is provided through Universal Credit instead.

This change was made to ensure that the working age partner gets the right support and incentives to remain in contact with the labour market – and where appropriate moves into work – subject to their individual circumstances. No work-related conditionality applies to the pensioner partner.

This does not affect when the pension-age partner in a mixed-age couple can access their State Pension or eligibility for other benefits such as Attendance Allowance.

This Government’s priority for pensioners has been to increase the State Pension, including by 4.1% last April. Pensioners on a low income may still qualify for help with their rent and Council Tax, and from this winter, pensioners whose annual taxable income is at or below £35,000 will receive the Winter Fuel Payment. They may also benefit from free prescriptions and eye tests and free off-peak local bus travel. Further information on the help available can be found on: GOV.UK