Age Scotland and Paul Sweeney MP urges local residents to claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit now before UK Government changes rules

Age Scotland and Paul Sweeney MP are warning that the new policy will cut the entitlements of couples and place some pensioners in the position of being financially better off if they live apart from their younger partner. The Charity is warning that "if a so-called ‘mixed-age couple’ temporarily loses their eligibility for these benefits because of a change in their personal or financial circumstances, from May they will be unable to regain it and will be back onto the Universal Credit regime."

Age Scotland’s Chief Executive Brian Sloan said:
 “These changes will have a devastating impact on the lives of some of the poorest pensioners in Scotland. Around one in six pensioners living in Scotland are in poverty and this retrograde move will do nothing to improve this.

“Beyond the Pension Credit support, these mixed age couples could also miss out on a range of ‘passported benefits’ such as housing benefit, council tax reduction, cold weather payments, support for dental and eye care costs, perhaps even the warm home discount. All in, this could mean that the loss of financial support for those on the lowest income could be well over £7000 a year. That is wholly unacceptable and the UK Government must change course.

“It is vital that older people ensure that they claim everything they are entitled to. The Age Scotland Helpline offers free benefit and entitlement checks and can support older people with pension credit claims. Call 0800 12 44 222 before the 15th May for information and advice about these changes.”

To read the full details and press release published by Paul Sweeney MP and Age Scotland, please see the attached PDF.