The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under pressure to abolish a controversial rule that impacts approximately 70,000 state pensioners across the UK. This regulation, known as the “mixed-age couple” rule, prevents couples from claiming Pension Credit and other pension-related benefits until both partners reach State Pension age.
A coalition of 13 organisations and charities, including Independent Age, has formally called on the DWP and Labour minister Pat McFadden to revoke the policy. Their joint letter highlights the financial hardship this rule causes, unfairly denying older individuals essential support simply because their partner is younger.
Joanna Elson, Chief Executive of Independent Age, emphasized the rule’s consequences: “Every day we hear from older people struggling to make ends meet, and for thousands of mixed-age couples, the system is making that struggle even harder. This rule is unfairly locking around 70,000 older people out of vital pension-age support just because their partner is younger.”
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Since its introduction in 2019, the mixed-age couple rule has left many couples up to £7,000 worse off annually. Public opinion largely opposes the rule, with 62 percent of UK residents supporting its removal to allow couples to claim benefits as soon as one partner reaches the State Pension age.
Charities warn that with the State Pension age set to rise further, the number of affected couples will increase, intensifying financial hardship.
One affected individual, Lynn from Eastbourne, shared her experience: “For the first time ever, we had to turn to a food bank to get by when my husband reached pension age before me. If it wasn’t for our children, I don’t know what we’d have done. They helped us get through this very stressful time in our lives.”
Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, condemned the policy: “To treat people differently on the basis of who they fall in love with is nonsense. Mixed-age couples are suffering financially because they cannot access the support they need.”
The call to end this rule reflects a growing awareness of the financial struggles facing older couples and emphasizes the need for more equitable pension-age support policies.