Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the implementation of his policy to merge Housing Benefit for pensioners with Pension Credit will require Primary Legislation, and when he expects the new system to be in operation.

Through bringing together the administration of pensioner Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, we are working to ensure more pensioners receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. This work will deliver a simplified joined-up service that is more effective, consistent, and improves pensioner access to financial support.

There is no requirement for primary legislation changes to deliver this joined-up service, which we will be testing with a small set of customers from Autumn 2026 to ensure improvements are having the impact we expect, before agreeing to roll out more widely.