Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners will see their income reduce as a result of the abolition of the Adult Dependency Increase; and what estimate he has been made of the number of pensioners who are entitled to alternative benefits.

In 2007 the then Labour Government decided to end State Pension ADIs as part of a package of reforms included in the Pensions Act 2007. The link to the Act is: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/22/contents - the legislation relating to State Pension ADI changes can be seen at Section 4 of the Act.

This overall reform package, which took account that State Pension ADIs would stop from April 2020, improved the State Pension position for women meaning more women would get a full basic State Pension. The reforms also provided more generous National Insurance credits for carers. Successive Governments of differing political persuasions since 2007 have continued to support this change.

As at May 2019, the latest data available, the number of people in receipt of State Pension Adult Dependency Increases was 10,817. At the same date, 2,274 of these persons were also in receipt of either Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit and may, consequently, be entitled to increases in these benefits.

Those who are already receiving Income Related Benefits (such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit) should have their entitlement reassessed once their State Pension Adult Dependency Increase ends. We are encouraging those who are not currently getting an Income Related Benefit to check out if they are now entitled.