DWP rule quietly introduced in 2019 means state pensioners lose 'vital' benefit

An unfair rule introduced back in 2019 means people are at risk of missing out on a vital benefit that unlocks the Winter Fuel Allowance from the new Labour Party government too.

A state pension warning has been issued as 60,000 older pensioners in the UK are at risk losing vital benefit due to an unfair rule. An unfair rule introduced back in 2019 means people are at risk of missing out on a vital benefit that unlocks the Winter Fuel Allowance from the new Labour Party government too.

New DWP rules brought in from 2019 mean if you’re part of a couple where one is under state pension age (currently 66) and one over, you must apply for Universal Credit instead. Te Sun newspaper reports tens of thousands could be affected by the mixed-age couples rule.

The latest government data suggests that at least 60,000 have claimed UC instead of PC in previous years. Stricter rules around Universal Credit claims also mean couples are far less likely to successfully get their claim backdated to cover the qualifying period, according to Age UK.

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You can ask for your Universal Credit to be backdated if: you could not reasonably have claimed earlier because of disability, illness - which must be confirmed by medical evidence - DWP computer failure, or in some circumstances, where a joint claim ends or is refused.

But charity Age UK warns it finds the DWP very rarely grants backdating - so a mixed-age couple making a UC claim now is very unlikely to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment. Those with an active claim for UC during the qualifying week which ran from September 16 to 22 are able to qualify.

But they will need to be quick in order to backdate this claim and therefore receive the £300 Winter Fuel Payment this year. And for those who backdated claim is unsuccessful, it's strongly urged to still apply for UC as the benefit can be worth thousands of pounds a year and you can qualify for WFP next year, provided your circumstances don’t change.