§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the savings element of pension credit will be assessed as resources for those pensioners receiving (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit at less than the full rebate of rent and council tax; [140627]
696W(2) if the savings element of the proposed pension credit will count as resources for the assessment of (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit. [140632]
§ Mr. RookerHousing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are important ways of ensuring that pensioners do not fall into poverty. The relationship between the Pension Credit and Housing and Council Tax Benefits needs to be designed carefully in order to achieve this. We have asked for views on how best this can be achieved. I refer my right hon. Friend to paragraph 34 of chapter 4 in the Pension Credit consultation document (Cm4900).