• The Department of Work & Pensions announced earlier this week that from 15 May 2019 new pensioners whose partners are younger than the state retirement age of 65 can no longer claim the means-tested top-up called pension credit.

    As a result of the change in DWP rules, many pensioners who have partners of working age could lose a substantial amount in pension top-ups. This is as a result of imminent rule changes that will require them to claim universal credit, rather than the pension credit currently being paid to couples.  The rate of universal credit payable to a couple under the new regime would be £114.81 a week, compared with the £255.24 currently being paid to couples receiving pension credit.

    This change to pension credit has officially been in place since the Welfare Reform Act 2012, but government ministers delayed the introduction until universal credit had bedded in, which has now been completed.

    At the moment, people who reach retirement age and are eligible can claim pension credit regardless of the age of their partner. In future, they will have to wait until their partner also reaches 65 (although the state retirement age will be increased to 66 in October 2020).

    Couples with one partner under state pension age, who are already in receipt of pension credit, will be unaffected.

    This content is correct at time of publication

    Can we help?

    Take a look at our Family and Divorce page for useful information, resources, guidance, details of our team and how we may be able to help you

  • Get in touch

    Please fill out the below form or alternatively you can call us on 01622 690691

      By submitting an enquiry through 'get in touch' your data will only be used to contact you regarding your enquiry. If you subscribe to any of our newsletters, you can unsubscribe any time using the link in the email. Please view our privacy statement for more information