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Social Security Benefits: Pensioners

Asked by Ben MaguireLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 25 June 2025UIN 60755

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mixed-age couples are impacted by the rule which prevents them from claiming pension-age benefits until the youngest partner reaches State Pension age.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

The requested information is not held

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 took effect from 15 May 2019. Income-related benefit support for couples where only one partner has reached State Pension age is provided through Universal Credit instead.

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