MaxGhenis · Oct 20, 2026 · Sep 30, 2026 · Sep 30, 2026 · Oct 3, 2026 · Oct 3, 2026
diff --git a/changelog.d/hb-pension-age-allowance-cohorts.fixed.md b/changelog.d/hb-pension-age-allowance-cohorts.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Give pension-age Housing Benefit claimants who attained State Pension age on or after 1 April 2021 (and couples who both did) the lower personal allowance in SI 2006/214 Sch 3 para 1(1)(c) and (2)(c), £238.00 and £363.25 a week in 2026-27, instead of the £256.00 and £383.35 kept by earlier cohorts. England's pensioner Council Tax Reduction applies the same split (SI 2012/2885 Sch 2 para 1); Scotland and Wales keep one rate. Adds `state_pension_age_date`, the day each person attains State Pension age.
diff --git a/docs/book/programs/gov/dwp/housing-benefit.ipynb b/docs/book/programs/gov/dwp/housing-benefit.ipynb
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@
    "source": [
     "## Personal allowances\n",
     "\n",
-    "The applicable amount uses age- and household-composition bands. The chart below shows how the weekly allowances have evolved."
+    "The applicable amount uses age- and household-composition bands. The chart below shows how the weekly allowances have evolved.\n",
+    "\n",
+    "Since 1 April 2021 the pension-age allowances depend on when members of the benunit attained State Pension age ([SI 2006/214 Sch. 3 para. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3), as amended by [SI 2021/188](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made); Northern Ireland: [SR 2006/406 Sch. 4 para. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4)). A single claimant or lone parent who attained it before 1 April 2021, or a couple in which either member did, keeps the higher allowance (`aged`, £256.00 single and £383.35 couple a week in 2026-27). Where every member attained it on or after that date, the lower allowance applies (`aged_from_cutoff`, £238.00 and £363.25). `housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff` compares each member's `state_pension_age_date`, the day set by their date of birth under the Pensions Act 1995 timetable, with `pension_age_cutoff`. The regulations do not settle a couple in which one member has not yet reached State Pension age and the other reached it after the cutoff; PolicyEngine gives it the lower allowance, following the explanatory note to SI 2021/188.\n",
+    "\n",
+    "Council Tax Reduction reuses these allowances. England's pensioner scheme has the same split and amounts ([SI 2012/2885 Sch. 2 para. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2885/schedule/2), as amended by [SI 2021/29](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/29/contents/made)). The Scottish ([SSI 2012/319 Sch. 1 para. 2](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2012/319/schedule/1)) and Welsh ([SI 2013/3029 Sch. 2 para. 1](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2013/3029/schedule/2)) schemes keep one pension-age rate, the higher one."
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -108,16 +112,18 @@
     "params = {\n",
     "    \"Single (younger)\": allowances.single.younger,\n",
     "    \"Single (older)\": allowances.single.older,\n",
-    "    \"Single (aged)\": allowances.single.aged,\n",
+    "    \"Single (pension age)\": allowances.single.aged,\n",
+    "    \"Single (pension age, reached from April 2021)\": allowances.single.aged_from_cutoff,\n",
     "    \"Lone parent (younger)\": allowances.lone_parent.younger,\n",
     "    \"Lone parent (older)\": allowances.lone_parent.older,\n",
-    "    \"Lone parent (aged)\": allowances.lone_parent.aged,\n",
+    "    \"Lone parent (pension age)\": allowances.lone_parent.aged,\n",
     "    \"Couple (younger)\": allowances.couple.younger,\n",
     "    \"Couple (older)\": allowances.couple.older,\n",
-    "    \"Couple (aged)\": allowances.couple.aged,\n",
+    "    \"Couple (pension age)\": allowances.couple.aged,\n",
+    "    \"Couple (pension age, both reached from April 2021)\": allowances.couple.aged_from_cutoff,\n",
     "}\n",
     "\n",
-    "dates = [f\"{y}-04-01\" for y in range(2016, 2026)]\n",
+    "dates = [f\"{y}-04-01\" for y in range(2016, 2027)]\n",
     "rows = [\n",
     "    {\"date\": d, \"composition\": name, \"weekly allowance\": p(d)}\n",
     "    for d in dates\n",

diff --git a/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/couple/aged_from_cutoff.yaml b/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/couple/aged_from_cutoff.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+description: Personal allowance for Housing Benefit for a couple where both members attained State Pension age on or after the pension-age cutoff (1 April 2021).
+values:
+  2021-04-01: 270.3
+  2022-04-01: 278.7
+  2023-04-01: 306.85
+  2024-04-01: 332.95
+  2025-04-01: 346.6
+  2026-04-01: 363.25
+metadata:
+  period: week
+  unit: currency-GBP
+  label: Housing Benefit couple personal allowance, State Pension age reached from April 2021
+  uprating: gov.benefit_uprating_cpi
+  reference:
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/188), regulation 2(3), inserting paragraph 1(2)(c) of Schedule 3 to SI 2006/214 from 1 April 2021
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2)(c), as in force on 2022-04-11 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022, SI 2022/292)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2022-04-11
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2)(c), as in force on 2023-04-10 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023, SI 2023/316)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2023-04-10
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2)(c), as in force on 2024-04-08 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024, SI 2024/242)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2024-04-08
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2)(c), as in force on 2025-04-07 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025, SI 2025/295)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2025-04-07
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(2)(c), as substituted from April 2026 by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148), Schedule 6
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (SR 2006/406), Schedule 4, paragraph 1 (the same amounts)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4
+    - title: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (2025-26 and 2026-27 rates)
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027
diff --git a/...engine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/lone_parent/aged_from_cutoff.yaml b/...engine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/lone_parent/aged_from_cutoff.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+description: Personal allowance for Housing Benefit for a lone parent who attained State Pension age on or after the pension-age cutoff (1 April 2021).
+values:
+  2021-04-01: 177.1
+  2022-04-01: 182.6
+  2023-04-01: 201.05
+  2024-04-01: 218.15
+  2025-04-01: 227.1
+  2026-04-01: 238
+metadata:
+  period: week
+  unit: currency-GBP
+  label: Housing Benefit lone parent personal allowance, State Pension age reached from April 2021
+  uprating: gov.benefit_uprating_cpi
+  reference:
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/188), regulation 2(3), inserting paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 3 to SI 2006/214 from 1 April 2021
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2022-04-11 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022, SI 2022/292)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2022-04-11
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2023-04-10 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023, SI 2023/316)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2023-04-10
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2024-04-08 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024, SI 2024/242)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2024-04-08
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2025-04-07 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025, SI 2025/295)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2025-04-07
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as substituted from April 2026 by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148), Schedule 6
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (SR 2006/406), Schedule 4, paragraph 1 (the same amounts)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4
+    - title: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (2025-26 and 2026-27 rates)
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/pension_age_cutoff.yaml b/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/pension_age_cutoff.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+description: Since April 2021, pension-age Housing Benefit personal allowances depend on when the claimant and any partner attained State Pension age. The higher allowances apply if the claimant or partner attained it before this date, written as a YYYYMMDD number; otherwise the lower allowances apply. Other members of the benefit unit do not count.
+values:
+  2021-04-01: 20210401
+metadata:
+  unit: date
+  label: Housing Benefit pension-age personal allowance cutoff
+  reference:
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/188), regulation 2
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/214), Schedule 3, paragraph 1
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (SR 2006/406), Schedule 4, paragraph 1
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/single/aged_from_cutoff.yaml b/policyengine_uk/parameters/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/allowances/single/aged_from_cutoff.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+description: Personal allowance for Housing Benefit for a single claimant who attained State Pension age on or after the pension-age cutoff (1 April 2021).
+values:
+  2021-04-01: 177.1
+  2022-04-01: 182.6
+  2023-04-01: 201.05
+  2024-04-01: 218.15
+  2025-04-01: 227.1
+  2026-04-01: 238
+metadata:
+  period: week
+  unit: currency-GBP
+  label: Housing Benefit single personal allowance, State Pension age reached from April 2021
+  uprating: gov.benefit_uprating_cpi
+  reference:
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (SI 2021/188), regulation 2(3), inserting paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 3 to SI 2006/214 from 1 April 2021
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2022-04-11 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2022, SI 2022/292)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2022-04-11
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2023-04-10 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023, SI 2023/316)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2023-04-10
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2024-04-08 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024, SI 2024/242)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2024-04-08
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as in force on 2025-04-07 (set by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025, SI 2025/295)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3/2025-04-07
+    - title: SI 2006/214, Schedule 3, paragraph 1(1)(c), as substituted from April 2026 by the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (SI 2026/148), Schedule 6
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3
+    - title: The Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (SR 2006/406), Schedule 4, paragraph 1 (the same amounts)
+      href: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4
+    - title: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (2025-26 and 2026-27 rates)
+      href: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/tests/fixtures/dwp_benefit_and_pension_rates.yaml b/policyengine_uk/tests/fixtures/dwp_benefit_and_pension_rates.yaml
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 # DWP "Benefit and pension rates" (and HMRC tax credit rates), by fiscal year
-# (2025 = 2025-26), in each parameter's own unit and period. Each year's rate
-# appears in that year's publication and as the previous-year column of the
-# next year's, and the two agree, except UC's 2021-22 amounts: the temporary
+# (2025 = 2025-26), in each parameter's own unit and period. Each year's rate to
+# 2025-26 appears in that year's publication and as the previous-year column of
+# the next year's, and the two agree, except UC's 2021-22 amounts: the temporary
 # uplift ended in October 2021, and the 2022-23 edition's previous-year column
 # gives the later amounts. The fixture holds the April 2021 amounts from the
-# 2021-22 edition, which PolicyEngine reads at 30 April. For 2025-26 and
-# 2026-27 the amounts match the
-# Social Security Benefits Up-rating Orders 2025 (SI 2025/295) and 2026 (SI
-# 2026/148), except the 2026-27 income-related ESA personal allowances, which
-# are set under the Universal Credit Act 2025 s.5. Rows marked `derived` are
-# computed from published rows as stated. Read by test_dwp_published_rates.py.
+# 2021-22 edition, which PolicyEngine reads at 30 April. 2026-27 has only its
+# own edition so far. For 2025-26 and 2026-27 the amounts match the Social
+# Security Benefits Up-rating Orders 2025 (SI 2025/295) and 2026 (SI 2026/148),
+# except the 2026-27 income-related ESA personal allowances, which are set under
+# the Universal Credit Act 2025 s.5. Rows marked `derived` are computed from
+# published rows as stated. Read by test_dwp_published_rates.py.
 
 sources:
   2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2015-to-2016
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1 @@
		Give pension-age Housing Benefit claimants who attained State Pension age on or after 1 April 2021 (and couples who both did) the lower personal allowance in SI 2006/214 Sch 3 para 1(1)(c) and (2)(c), £238.00 and £363.25 a week in 2026-27, instead of the £256.00 and £383.35 kept by earlier cohorts. England's pensioner Council Tax Reduction applies the same split (SI 2012/2885 Sch 2 para 1); Scotland and Wales keep one rate. Adds `state_pension_age_date`, the day each person attains State Pension age.