When universal credit is introduced in October 13 mixed aged couples will be treated as working age until both couples reach Pension Age, unless they (as a couple) were in receipt of Pension Credit before the change over.
Until October 13 if one member of a couple is over State Pension age then both partners, regardless of the age of the younger partner, are eligible to claim Pension Credit, which is around double that of working age benefits. eg Jobseekers/Income support for a couple is £111.45pw, Pension Credit is £217.90pw
You need to got to AgeUK or CAB to get a better off calculation to see if you would be better off living alone or together. Once you have that calculation - will you be better off if you and your partner move in together? you will then have to think of stage 2 - Introduction of Universal Credit.
As it stands at the moment, when Universal credit is introduced, New claimants for mixed aged couples will be classed as working age. State Pension will be treated as income and deducted from benefits. These couples are not protected from Council Tax increases or the Bedroom Tax. These couples will not be able to claim any pensioner benefits such as extra heating allowances
This change is in the Welform Reform Act 2012 which is now in law and comes into effect in October 2013
There are Universal Credit Pathfinders starting in April 13, which are in the NW England, Tameside, Oldham, Wigan and Warrington
Initially those who will take part in the pathfinder will only be single unemployed people. If this goes Ok then more complicated cases will be added.
If you are not in these areas then Universal Credit will be rolled out Nationally in October 13.
If you are in receipt of Pension Credit before October 13 then you will not be affected by Universal Credit and will keep the higher benefit (Pension Credit)
Steve Webb Pensions Minister is well aware of this fact, but at the moment there is no grass root movement, just a few who know what is going to happen, as most people do not know of this change. I have been involved in campaigning against this for the last year, and can definitely say that at the moment there are no plans for this change to be shelved.
There is also a twist is the tail if the older person is female - Toy Boy Tax - Please type into Google: "Toy Boy Tax for pensioners" as these thread doesnt allow external links
We need people to contact their MP's as there will be a lot of pensioners living in isolation and poverty for many, many years if this is not stopped.
80 yr old on PC
54 on ESA