Recommendation 37

The mixed age couple rule means that where one member of a couple is under pension age, they must claim working age benefits, rather than pension benefits as previously. The outcome is that some people in their 70s are still on Universal Credit, which is paid at a significantly lower level than Pension Credit. The rationale for this approach is based on assumptions about their partners’ capacity for paid work, that the Department appears to have limited evidence to support. (Conclusion, Paragraph 179)