Mixed-Age Pension Couples Denied £363 DWP Payments After 2019 Rule Change
State pensioners are being denied Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payments worth up to £363 per week due to a rule change implemented in 2019. The issue specifically affects mixed-age couples, where one partner has reached state pension age while the other has not.
Couple's Struggle with Pension Credit Application
A mixed-age couple, Sharon and David Tingey, recently shared their experience with Sky News after encountering significant difficulties with their pension credit application. They explained that when they applied for pension credit on December 12, they received a call informing them that as a mixed-age couple with only one partner at state pension age, they would need to apply for Universal Credit instead.
"Upon my own investigations on the government website and Citizens Advice, it is clear that as we have been in continuous receipt of pension age housing benefit since before 14 May 2019, we are classed as a protected mixed-age couple who are still able to claim pension credit," the couple stated.
Despite their research confirming their eligibility under protected status rules, their attempts to resolve the matter directly with the DWP proved frustrating. "I called the Department for Work and Pensions and tried to explain this, but was eventually cut off with no resolution," they reported.
Understanding the 2019 Rule Change
Sky News personal finance expert Jess Sharp clarified the current regulations: "Since 2019, mixed-age couples, meaning one is of state pension age and the other isn't, have not been allowed to make a new claim for pension credit."
However, there is an important exception for couples who were already receiving pension credit or pension-age housing benefit before the rules changed on May 15, 2019. Those who have maintained continuous receipt since that date are granted protected status and remain eligible for pension credit claims.
A mixed-age couple is defined as one where one person is over State Pension age (currently 66 for both men and women) while the other person is under that age threshold.
Financial Impact and Resolution
Pension Credit serves to top up weekly income to specific amounts: £238 for single individuals or £363.25 for couples with partners. Additional amounts may be available for those with other responsibilities and costs, making this benefit crucial for many pensioners' financial stability.
Following intervention from Sky News, the DWP acknowledged their error in handling the Tingeys' application. The department issued an apology and confirmed that the claim had been corrected, with the couple now receiving pension credit and all due arrears.
"We apologise to Mr and Mrs Tingey for the error in handling their pension credit application," the DWP stated in their response.
This case highlights ongoing challenges that mixed-age couples face when navigating pension benefit systems following the 2019 rule changes, particularly when their protected status isn't properly recognized during application processes.
