The government has announced that it is amending regulations to “smooth the transition” from universal credit (UC) to state pension benefits.

In a written statement, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey confirmed the changes, which are estimated to cost around £70m over the next five years.

People approaching state pension age that were claiming UC could have experienced a gap in benefit payments during the assessment period.

The amended regulations aim to plug that gap by allowing those that reach state pension age while claiming UC to receive a run-on, meaning that they can receive a payment for the entire assessment period.

Coffey stated that entitlement to pensioner benefits and state pension will be “unaffected and continues as usual”.

“This ensures there is no gap in benefit provision as people approach state pension age,” she added.

The gap without benefits could previously have been as much as nine weeks.

The government estimated that the changes will benefit approximately 200,000 pensioners over the next five years by an average of £350 each.

Coffey concluded: “This process is already in operation on an extra statutory basis, ensuring that nobody loses out upon reaching state pension age and legislation will be amended accordingly later this year.”

The changes have been announced following an Early Day Motion tabled on 30 January which received 74 signatures from MPs.

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