Changes to Treatment of Mixed Age Households, and Localising
Council Tax Support Approach
- As part of the wider Welfare Reform, there will be,
in the future , changes to how a household where one partner is of
working age and one has reached the qualifying age for pension credit
will be treated, which will have a knock-on effect on council tax
reduction schemes.
- The date of this change will be confirmed by DWP
shortly (it is hoped within the month).
- We can confirm that this change, when it happens,
will apply to new claims - It will not affect those in
receipt of Pension Credit at the date the change is introduced. If it
ends (for example because their income lifts them out of the scope of
Pension Credit) they will not be able to reclaim Pension Credit until
both members have reached the Pension Credit qualifying age.
Background:
- DWP is shortly to confirm the date of a change to
the way new claimants for Pension Credit who are part of a 'mixed age'
couple (one of working age and one who has reached the qualifying age
for state pension credit) are treated.
- Pension Credit:
From the date of implementation (yet to be decided) it will not be
possible for a couple to claim Pension Credit until both members have
reached the qualifying age. These couples will though have access to
Universal Credit if they meet all the other eligibility criteria.
- Existing claims to Pension Credit: from these couples where one is working age, one of
pension credit age at the point of change will be protected and they
will retain Pension Credit all the time entitlement continues, once
it ends (for example because their income lifts them out of the scope
of Pension Credit) they will not be able to reclaim Pension Credit
until both members have reached the Pension Credit qualifying age.
- Until this new condition of entitlement for Pension
Credit is introduced the existing rules will apply and ‘mixed couples’
will continue to be able to choose whether they claim a working age
income related benefit (as appropriate for their circumstances) or
Pension Credit.