Charity Age UK wants to see universal benefits for older people protected

An alleged disagreement between the Prime Minister and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has brought the Government’s position on pensioner’s entitlements into the spotlight.

According to The Sun newspaper, the Pensions Secretary favours making benefits means-tested in order to save £2bn a year, but PM David Cameron insists the Government should not break anything specified in the Coalition Agreement even though the idea has some support amongst both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats within the Cabinet.

Charity director-general for Age UK, Michelle Mitchell has supported the PM’s stance, saying: “We know that universal benefits such as the winter fuel payment are valued by older people, providing valuable extra help when it is most needed and meaning many worry less about their energy bills.

“The current universal benefits are simple to understand and are not subject to the problems of lack of take-up found with benefits such as Pension Credit. Therefore any move towards more means-tested or targeted support would not only make systems more complicated and expensive to administer but also risk those in greatest need missing out.”

The speculation surrounding pensioners’ benefits comes as the Government is poised to see debate on the financing of care provision for an ageing population, with a White Paper on last year’s Dilnot Commission proposals said to be imminent.

Image: Iain Duncan Smith at Conservative Party Conference; courtesy of Conservative Party’s photostream