£33million cut to state pensions as new law comes into effect
Thousands of pensioners will lose up to £3,640 per year overnight
Elise Britten
11,000 pensioners are affected (Image: PA wire stock photo)
Thousands of pensioners could find themselves up to £3,640 per year worse off overnight, as a new law comes into effect.
The Government is making a cut worth £33million from pensions as it ends the allowance for adult dependents.
The benefit which is worth £70 a week, will stop being paid in April, reports the Mirror.
The Government has been accused of "penny-pinching" over a measure that could drop the standard of living for those affected.
The cut is a result of the Pensions Act 2007, which blocked people from applying for the credit after 2010.
But anyone already getting the extra cash by then was allowed to keep claiming it for as long as they were entitled.
However on April 6, 2020, they will be cut off.
The Government has been accused on 'penny pinching' (Image: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)
When Royal London launched a Freedom of Information request to find out how many people would be affected, it discovered 11,000 pensioners are still receiving the extra cash.
Steve Webb, Royal London policy director, said: "Under the old state pension system, people claiming a retirement pension could get a significant extra amount for a spouse who was financially dependent upon them.
"It will come as a nasty shock to thousands of people to see their state pension cut by up to £70 per week.
"Losing over £3,500 per year overnight will make a material difference to the standard of living of those who are affected.
"It seems penny-pinching of the Government to take this money away when the addition is gradually working its way out of the system in any case."
A DWP spokesperson told Mirror Online: "The ending of ADIs was part of a package of reforms introduced in 2010, which meant that overall more women received the full basic State Pension and more generous National Insurance credits for carers were introduced.
"After April 6 2020, current ADI recipients may be eligible for a means tested benefit such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
"Those already in receipt of a means tested benefit should see no change to their income as the loss of the ADI will be offset by an increase in their means tested benefit."
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