Shropshire charities condemn pensions shake-up for 'mixed age' couples
Two Shropshire charities have joined in condemnation of "hugely unfair" changes to pension payments for couples, and advised elderly couples to seek advice urgently before the changes come into effect in May.
The bosses of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin and Citizens Advice Shropshire criticised the law change that will mean the right to certain benefits is withdrawn from those with partners who haven’t yet reached their own pensionable age.
The changes will affect couples made up of one person above pension age and one below, and who receive pension credit.
Couples can currently choose to move from working age benefits to pension age benefits when the older partner reaches state pension age, but from May 15 this will no longer be the case and the mixed age couple will receive Universal Credit until the younger partner reaches pension age.
A joint statement from the Shropshire branches of the charities said: "Age UK and Citizens Advice are deeply concerned about the changes.
"The two charities are united in their belief that for many, this change will be the difference between being above and below the poverty line and could also possibly force some to stop their unpaid carer role.
"Age UK is actively campaigning at national level to reverse the decision.
"Furthermore, income for a working couple is not guaranteed, with many requirements and stipulations to be met to remain on the benefit.
"Help with housing benefit and council tax benefit is also much less generous and online maintenance of the benefit is required on a weekly basis.
Encourage
"In addition, many mixed aged couples have a care relationship and it is quite common for a younger partner to give up work to care for their older spouse, who may be disabled or have dementia."
The charities said the change could mean a difference of £7,000 to 'mixed age' couples.
Heather Osborne, chief executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin said: "Many older people are already missing out on benefits they are entitled to.
"We strongly encourage all people in a mixed age couple, who know they are eligible for pension credit and housing benefit, to apply before the deadline on May 15, 2019.
"If you are in a mixed age couple but are not sure of your entitlement, we would advise you to organise a welfare benefits check, to assess your eligibility for pension credit, council tax support or housing benefit, without delay.
"We cannot urge people strongly enough to come and talk to us, either at Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin or Citizens Advice Shropshire."
Jackie Jeffrey, chief executive of Citizens Advice Shropshire, said: "We believe this change will introduce a hugely unfair two-tier system where, for example, two older people of the same age are entitled to two completely different household incomes simply because one has a younger partner and one doesn’t.
"We are urging any pensioner in a mixed age couple, who thinks they may be entitled to pension credit and/or housing benefit, to put in a claim now: it could give them as much as £7,000 more to spend every year until their younger partner also becomes a pensioner than if they apply after the deadline."
To learn more about the changes, contact either Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233123 or Citizens Advice Shropshire on 0344 499 11 00 as soon as possible.
The changes for mixed age couples are part of the roll out of Universal Credit, the controversial new benefit system first announced in 2010 and delayed several times.
