HC Deb 18 February 1997 vol 290 c510W
Mr. Peter Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to disregard income from a personal pension for people with reserved rights who have a spouse living in the family home. [16741]

Mr. Roger Evans

Regulations are being amended with effect from 7 April 1997 so that 50 per cent. of the income from a personal pension or retirement annuity contract will be disregarded where a resident of a residential care or nursing home with preserved rights to income support, or income-based jobseeker's allowance, passes at least half of their pension or annuity income to a spouse living at home. A similar disregard for occupational pensions was introduced in April 1996.