Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how access to pension provision at the age of 55 affects eligibility for benefits.

Justin Tomlinson

The rules relating to the treatment of pension funds in means-tested benefits have not changed. How someone’s (or their partner’s) pension fund is treated depends on whether they have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit, and the way in which they have accessed the fund (released money can be treated as either income or capital). Each case is decided on its own circumstances.

Information is available in terms of how income and capital are treated in the means-tested benefits. A factsheet on this subject can be found at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-flexibilities-and-dwp-benefits.

Further information can also be found in the decision-making guidance at www.gov.uk.

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