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Ministers were accused of "sneaking out" changes to pensioner benefits last night that could experts claimed cost some older couples more than £7,000 a year.

Pensions minister Guy Opperman announced the changes at 7.20pm on the eve of the crunch meaningful vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal.

The changes from the Department of Work and Pensions will cut the numbers of people who are eligible for pension credit, which tops up the income of the poorest pensioners.

Couples where one is over the state pension age, currently 65 for both men and women, and one is not, will no longer get the benefit.

It will take effect from May 15 when relevant new claims are opened nationwide for six-in-one benefit Universal Credit.

Former pensions minister Steve Webb suggested the move could leave some older couples more than £7,000 worse off because pension credit tends to be higher than working age benefits.

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DWP insiders claimed the plans were developed when Sir Steve, now director of policy at pension provider Royal London, was the minister responsible.

They denied the changes were deliberately published to coincide with the Brexit vote, instead suggesting they were announced on the first day following the decision to implement them.

Minister Guy Opperman also said: "Couples with one partner under State Pension age who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit at the point of change will be unaffected while they remain entitled to either benefit."

But Sir Steve told the Financial Times: "A difference of just one day in the timing of a claim could cost a couple over £7,000 in the following year, as well as putting pressure on the younger member of the couple to seek work.

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"Under the proposed rules, couples where one partner is over pension age and is not expected to seek work will get the same rate as a couple where both partners are under pension age and both are expected to seek work.

"People who may be affected deserve to know about this change and not have it sneaked out on a day when ministers were no doubt hoping that everyone's attention was directed somewhere else."

A DWP spokesman said: "In 2012, Parliament voted to modernise this system for new claims so only pensioners receive pension credit.

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"Currently couple can move from working age benefits to pension age benefits when the older partner of the couple reaches state pensions age.

"The new rules mean this now takes place when the younger partner reaches state pension age too."

Mixed-age couples with one partner under state pension age who already receive pension credit or pension age housing benefit will be unaffected.