Clause 8 - Fresh determinations increasing

Part of State Pension Credit Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:15 pm on 23 April 2002.

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Photo of Steve Webb Steve Webb Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 12:15, 23 April 2002

I think I agree with the Minister that the clause is to the benefit of pensioners. Will he clarify whether, when pension income from one source has gone down and pension credit could go up, all the other sources of income will be examined to see whether they have gone down or up? If any of them have gone up, will that be offset against the increase in credit? If one pension benefit has gone down by £10 but another has gone up by £5, will the assessment ignore the increase of £5 or will the person's net income be judged to have gone down by only £5? Will such variations be in completely separate boxes, or is there the possibility of a partial offset from an increase in income? I am slightly hazy on that.