The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 and shall come into force on 6th April 2010.

Amendment of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

2.  The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(1) are amended as follows.

3.—(1) Schedule 2 (applicable amounts) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 9 (pensioner premium for persons under 75), for “not less than 60” substitute “not less than the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(3) In paragraph 10 (higher pensioner premium)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)(b), for “not less than 60” substitute “not less than the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(b) in sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(ii)(aa) and (3)(b), for “his partner’s 60th birthday” substitute “the day his partner attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(c) in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(ii)(bb), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(4) In sub-paragraph (1)(b)(ii) of paragraph 11 (disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(5) In sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 13A (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

4.—(1) Schedule 10 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 4, for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

5.  The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(2) are amended as follows.

6.—(1) Regulation 36 (payment to a partner as alternative payee) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (2), for “the other person has not yet attained the age of 60 in the qualifying week” substitute “in the qualifying week the other person has not yet attained the qualifying age”.

Amendment of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995

7.  The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995(3) are amended as follows.

8.—(1) Regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (2), for the definition of “pensionable age” substitute—

““pensionable age” has the meaning given by the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act 1995(4);”.

Amendment of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

9.  The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(5) are amended as follows.

10.—(1) Regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (3), after the definition of “polygamous marriage” insert—

““qualifying age for state pension credit” means—

(a)

in the case of a woman, pensionable age; or

(b)

in the case of a man, the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man;”.

11.—(1) Regulation 49 (persons approaching retirement and the jobseeking period) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

12.—(1) Schedule A1 (categories of members of a joint-claim couple who are not required to satisfy the conditions in section 1(2B)(b)) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) For paragraph 13 substitute—

“Members who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit

13.   A member who has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit.”.

13.—(1) Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In Part 3 (premiums)—

(a) in the heading to paragraph 10, for “over 60” substitute “over the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(b) in paragraph 10 (pensioner premium for persons over the qualifying age for state pension credit), for “the age of 60”, wherever those words occur, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(c) in paragraph 12 (higher pensioner premium)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for “the age of 60”, wherever those words occur, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(ii) in sub-paragraphs (1)(a)(ii) and (2)(b), for “his 60th birthday” substitute “the date he attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(d) in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 13 (disability premium), for “the age of 60”, wherever those words occur, substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(e) in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 15A (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(3) In Part 4 (weekly amounts of premiums specified in Part 3), in sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 20, for “aged over 60” substitute “who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(4) In Part 4A (premiums for joint-claim couples)—

(a) in the heading to paragraph 20E, for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(b) in paragraph 20E (pensioner premium where one member of a joint-claim couple has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(c) in paragraph 20F (higher pensioner premium)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (1)(b)(i) for “his 60th birthday” substitute “the date he attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(iii) in sub-paragraphs (1)(b)(ii) and (2)(b), for “the 60th birthday of either member of that couple” substitute “the date either member of that couple attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(d) in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 20G (disability premium), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(e) in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 20IA (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(5) In Part 4B (weekly amounts of premiums specified in Part 4A), in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 20M, for “is aged over 60” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

14.—(1) Schedule 2 (housing costs) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1)(a) of paragraph 8 (general exclusions from paragraphs 6 and 7), for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

15.—(1) Schedule 6 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 5—

(a) in sub-paragraph (3)(b), for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(b) in sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (7)(a)(i), (b) and (c), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

16.—(1) Schedule 6A (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings of members of joint-claim couples) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 1—

(a) in sub-paragraph (3)(b), for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”;

(b) in sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (5)(a)(i), (b) and (c), for “the age of 60” substitute “the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

17.—(1) Schedule 8 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 4, for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

Amendment of the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000

18.  The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2000(6) are amended as follows.

19.—(1) Regulation 1 (citation, commencement and interpretation) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (2), after the definition of “independent hospital” insert—

““qualifying age for state pension credit” means—

(a)

in the case of a woman, pensionable age; or

(b)

in the case of a man, the age which is pensionable age in the case of a woman born on the same day as the man;”.

20.—(1) Regulation 2 (social fund winter fuel payments) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1), for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b) in or before the qualifying week has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit,”.

21.—(1) Regulation 3 (persons not entitled to a social fund winter fuel payment) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (1), for sub-paragraph (a)(i) substitute—

“(i) a partner of, and living with, a person who attained the qualifying age for state pension credit in or before the qualifying week and to whom state pension credit, an income-based jobseeker’s allowance or an income-related employment and support allowance has been, or falls to be, paid in respect of the qualifying week;”.

Amendment of the State Pension Credit Regulations 2002

22.  The State Pension Credit Regulations 2002(7) are amended as follows.

23.—(1) Part 1 (capital disregarded for the purpose of calculating income) of Schedule 5 (income from capital) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “is either aged 60 or over or incapacitated” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit or is incapacitated”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

24.  The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006(8) are amended as follows.

25.—(1) Regulation 83 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (11), for “the age of 59 years and 35 weeks” substitute “the age which is 17 weeks younger than the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

26.—(1) Schedule 3 (applicable amounts) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 12 (disability premium), for “is aged less than 60”, wherever those words occur, substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 15 (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

27.—(1) Schedule 4 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 3(3)(b), for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

28.—(1) Schedule 6 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “where that person is either aged 60 or over or incapacitated” substitute “where that person has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit or is incapacitated”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

29.  The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(9) are amended as follows.

30.—(1) Regulation 64 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (12), for “the age of 59 years and 35 weeks” substitute “the age which is 17 weeks younger than the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

31.—(1) Schedule 6 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “where that person is either aged 60 or over or incapacitated” substitute “where that person has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit or is incapacitated”.

Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006

32.  The Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006(10) are amended as follows.

33.—(1) Regulation 69 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (13), for “the age of 59 years and 35 weeks” substitute “the age which is 17 weeks younger than the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

34.—(1) Schedule 1 (applicable amounts) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 12 (disability premium), for “is aged less than 60”, wherever those words occur, substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

(3) In sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 15 (enhanced disability premium), for “is aged less than 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

35.—(1) Schedule 3 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 3(3)(b), for “is under the age of 60” substitute “has not attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

36.—(1) Schedule 5 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “where that person is either aged 60 or over or incapacitated” substitute “where that person has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit or is incapacitated”.

Amendment of the Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006

37.  The Council Tax Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006(11) are amended as follows.

38.—(1) Regulation 53 (time and manner in which claims are to be made) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (12A), for “the age of 59 years and 35 weeks” substitute “the age which is 17 weeks younger than the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

39.—(1) Schedule 4 (capital disregards) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “where that person is either aged 60 or over or incapacitated” substitute “where that person has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit or is incapacitated”.

Amendment of the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006

40.  The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2006(12) are amended as follows.

41.—(1) Schedule 3 (transitional and savings provisions) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 5(2), in regulation 13 (restrictions on unreasonable payments) as set out in that paragraph, for paragraph (4)(a) substitute—

“(a) has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit; or”.

Amendment of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008

42.  The Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008(13) are amended as follows.

43.—(1) Regulation 158 (meaning of “person in hardship”) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph (3)(e), for “is aged 60 or more” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

44.—(1) Schedule 9 (capital to be disregarded) is amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In paragraph 4(a), for “is aged 60 or over” substitute “has attained the qualifying age for state pension credit”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Jim Knight

Minister of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

9th June 2009