Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the implementation of planned changes to pay Pension Credit to the youngest member of a couple rather than the youngest.

Currently, when one member of a couple has reached Pension Credit qualifying age, that member may claim Pension Credit for the couple. Under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, Pension Credit will be available to couples only where both members have reached the qualifying age.

We plan to implement the change to Pension Credit qualification for couples where one member is above and the other below Pension Credit qualifying age at the point that Universal Credit has been rolled out nationally and is available for all new claims. However, existing claims to Pension Credit from such couples will be protected.