In some households where a person has reached State Pension age, they may be eligible to claim Universal Credit.
The eligibility rules around Universal Credit state that people may qualify for the benefit if they or their partner are under the State Pension age.
A change to Pension Credit eligibility last May, means that some mixed-age couples are no longer able to receive Pension Credit, leading many of them to apply for Universal Credit instead.
Pension Credit is an income-related benefit that is made up of two parts - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
In order to qualify, a person must live in Scotland, England, or Wales and have reached State Pension age.
Those who are in a couple can start claiming Pension Credit if either:
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They and their partner have both reached State Pension age
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One of them is getting Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age
The UK Governmen t identifies your partner as “your husband, wife or civil partner (if you live with them) or someone else you live with as if you are married.”
People who were getting Pension Credit before May 15, 2019 will continue to do so - even if their partner is under State Pension age.
If circumstances change, and the entitlement stops, the recipient cannot start receiving it again unless they or their partner are eligible under the new rules, reports Express.co.uk.
People will stop getting Pension Credi t if they begin living with a partner who is under State Pension age - they will start getting it again once their partner reaches State Pension age.
If one person in a couple is State Pension age, then the couple can apply for Universal Credit as a couple - should the other be under State Pension age and eligible for the benefit.
When both people reach State Pension age, their Universal Credit claim will stop.
It may be that at this point, they can then apply for Pension Credit or other benefits as a couple, Gov.uk states.
Use the Pension Credit calculator here to work out how much you might get.
Universal Credit - who is eligible?
The UK Government says a person may be able to get Universal Credit if:
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You’re on a low income or out of work
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You’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
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You’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
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You and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
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You live in the UK
How to claim Universal Credit
If you live with your partner their income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.
It's worth noting that you won't be able to get any of the means-tested benefits if your capital and savings amount to more than the upper limit of £16,000.
You may get more money on top of your standard allowance if you have children or a disability.
To make a claim for Universal Credit, visit the gov.uk webpsite here.
