CHANGES TO THE PENSION CREDIT SYSTEM

That this House expresses concern with the Government’s plans to change the pension credit system which could lead to an increase in pensioner poverty; is dismayed that the Government has decided that pension credits will from now on, only be available to couples where both partners have reached pension age, rather than the previous system whereby only one partner had to be of retirement age in order to receive credits; recognises the issue of pensioner poverty as being important in our society and something which will become more acute if these changes to pension credits are introduced; and urges the Government to change course, so that citizens will not be as much as £7,000 worse off per annum where couples will be in receipt of £114.81 a week Universal Credit compared with £255.25 per week for a couple receiving pension credit.