diff --git a/changelog.d/2610.fixed.md b/changelog.d/2610.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..638605ec2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/2610.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- Restored neutral pre-2021 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction cohort flags while retaining the existing FY2021-22 annual split.
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/gov/dwp/housing_benefit_pre_cutoff_period.yaml b/policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/gov/dwp/housing_benefit_pre_cutoff_period.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ed35677dd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/policyengine_uk/tests/policy/baseline/gov/dwp/housing_benefit_pre_cutoff_period.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+# Component regressions: upstream pensioner flags explicitly isolate allowance
+# selection. These cases do not claim natural pensioner eligibility or cash awards.
+# GB SI 2006/214 Sch 3 para 1 at 30 April 2020 and England SI 2012/2885 Sch 2 para 1
+# supply 187.75/280.85 weekly. Model annualisation uses 52 weeks.
+- name: Case 1, omitted-age component has the single higher allowance in 2020.
+  period: 2020
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1: {}
+    benunits:
+      benunit:
+        members: [person1]
+        housing_benefit_eligible: true
+        housing_benefit_pension_age_regulations_apply: true
+        council_tax_reduction_pensioner: true
+        benefits_premiums: 0
+        council_tax_reduction_premiums: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        region: LONDON
+  output:
+    housing_benefit_applicable_amount: 9_763
+    council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount: 9_763
+
+- name: Case 2, isolated couple component has the higher allowance in 2020.
+  period: 2020
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+      person2:
+        age: 40
+    benunits:
+      benunit:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        housing_benefit_eligible: true
+        housing_benefit_pension_age_regulations_apply: true
+        council_tax_reduction_pensioner: true
+        benefits_premiums: 0
+        council_tax_reduction_premiums: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1, person2]
+        region: LONDON
+  output:
+    housing_benefit_applicable_amount: 14_604.2
+    council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount: 14_604.2
+
+# Annual 2021 means FY2021-22, not legal commencement on 1 January.
+# SI 2021/188 reg 2 and NI SR 2021/70 reg 2 insert 177.10 weekly;
+# England SI 2021/29 regs 1(2), 7 insert the same lower component.
+- name: Case 3, post-cutoff single component retains the lower allowance in 2021.
+  period: 2021
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 40
+        is_male: true
+    benunits:
+      benunit:
+        members: [person1]
+        housing_benefit_eligible: true
+        housing_benefit_pension_age_regulations_apply: true
+        council_tax_reduction_pensioner: true
+        benefits_premiums: 0
+        council_tax_reduction_premiums: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        region: LONDON
+  output:
+    housing_benefit_applicable_amount: 9_209.2
+    council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount: 9_209.2
+
+# 191.15 is pinned here only for England CTR, directly by SI 2021/29 reg 7.
+- name: Case 4, England CTR retains the higher allowance for pre-cutoff attainment.
+  period: 2021
+  absolute_error_margin: 0.01
+  input:
+    people:
+      person1:
+        age: 66
+        date_of_birth: 19550331
+        is_male: true
+    benunits:
+      benunit:
+        members: [person1]
+        council_tax_reduction_pensioner: true
+        benefits_premiums: 0
+        council_tax_reduction_premiums: 0
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [person1]
+        region: LONDON
+  output:
+    state_pension_age_date: 20210331
+    council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount: 9_939.8
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/tests/test_housing_benefit_pension_age_cohorts.py b/policyengine_uk/tests/test_housing_benefit_pension_age_cohorts.py
index 3334321751..404325191b 100644
--- a/policyengine_uk/tests/test_housing_benefit_pension_age_cohorts.py
+++ b/policyengine_uk/tests/test_housing_benefit_pension_age_cohorts.py
@@ -309,3 +309,174 @@ def test_other_members_do_not_change_the_cohort(units, others, year):
             plain.calculate(variable, year),
             atol=0.005,
         )
+
+
+# SI 2021/188 reg 1(2), NI SR 2021/70 reg 1(2), and SI 2021/29 reg 1(2)
+# introduce the cohort split for FY2021-22. Annual 2021 represents that fiscal
+# year; it does not claim that these provisions commenced on 1 January 2021.
+COHORT_VARIABLES = (
+    "housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff",
+    "council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff",
+)
+
+
+def cutoff_situation(year, people=None, region="LONDON", component=False):
+    """Build public situations; component flags isolate allowances, not eligibility."""
+    if people is None:
+        people = {"person1": {"age": {year: 40}, "is_male": {year: True}}}
+    benunit = {"members": list(people)}
+    if component:
+        benunit.update(
+            {
+                "housing_benefit_eligible": {year: True},
+                "housing_benefit_pension_age_regulations_apply": {year: True},
+                "council_tax_reduction_pensioner": {year: True},
+                "benefits_premiums": {year: 0},
+                "council_tax_reduction_premiums": {year: 0},
+            }
+        )
+    return {
+        "people": people,
+        "benunits": {"benunit": benunit},
+        "households": {
+            "household": {"members": list(people), "region": {year: region}}
+        },
+    }
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("variable", COHORT_VARIABLES, ids=["hb", "ctr"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2015, 2020, 2021])
+def test_pre2021_cutoff_is_neutral_without_entitlement_overrides(variable, year):
+    """A neutral historical cohort flag does not award pensioner eligibility."""
+    sim = Simulation(situation=cutoff_situation(year))
+    assert sim.calculate("state_pension_age_date", year)[0] > 20210401
+    assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is (year < 2021)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("region", ["LONDON", "SCOTLAND", "WALES", "NORTHERN_IRELAND"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2015, 2020])
+def test_pre2021_neutral_cohort_does_not_depend_on_region(year, region):
+    """The CTR helper is neutral; this does not extend English monetary rules."""
+    sim = Simulation(situation=cutoff_situation(year, region=region))
+    for variable in COHORT_VARIABLES:
+        assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2021, 2025])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "birth, attainment, expected",
+    [
+        (19550331, 20210331, True),
+        (19550401, 20210401, False),
+        (19550402, 20210402, False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_post2021_exact_attainment_boundary_is_preserved(
+    year, birth, attainment, expected
+):
+    """These men attain 66 on their actual 1955 birth-date anniversary."""
+    people = {
+        "person1": {
+            "age": {year: year - 1955},
+            "date_of_birth": {year: birth},
+            "is_male": {year: True},
+        }
+    }
+    sim = Simulation(situation=cutoff_situation(year, people))
+    assert sim.calculate("state_pension_age_date", year)[0] == attainment
+    for variable in COHORT_VARIABLES:
+        assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2021, 2025])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("qualifying_role", ["partner", "other"])
+def test_post2021_only_claimant_or_partner_can_supply_earlier_attainment(
+    year, qualifying_role
+):
+    """An earlier-attaining partner counts; an unrelated member does not."""
+    people = {}
+    for name, birth, role in [
+        ("person1", 19550402, True),
+        ("person2", 19550331, qualifying_role == "partner"),
+    ]:
+        people[name] = {
+            "age": {year: year - 1955},
+            "date_of_birth": {year: birth},
+            "is_male": {year: True},
+            "is_claimant_or_partner": {year: role},
+            "is_council_tax_reduction_applicant_or_partner": {year: role},
+        }
+    sim = Simulation(situation=cutoff_situation(year, people))
+    for variable in COHORT_VARIABLES:
+        assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is (qualifying_role == "partner")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2021, 2025])
+def test_post2021_cutoff_parameter_remains_reformable(year):
+    """Moving the cutoff one day includes an otherwise identical 1 April cohort."""
+    from policyengine_uk.model_api import Scenario
+
+    people = {
+        "person1": {
+            "age": {year: year - 1955},
+            "date_of_birth": {year: 19550401},
+            "is_male": {year: True},
+        }
+    }
+    situation = cutoff_situation(year, people)
+    baseline = Simulation(situation=situation)
+    reformed = Simulation(
+        situation=situation,
+        scenario=Scenario(
+            parameter_changes={
+                "gov.dwp.housing_benefit.allowances.pension_age_cutoff": {
+                    str(year): 20210402
+                }
+            }
+        ),
+    )
+    for variable in COHORT_VARIABLES:
+        assert bool(reformed.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is True
+        assert bool(baseline.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("year", [2015, 2020])
+def test_omitted_age_component_keeps_existing_higher_allowance(year):
+    """No age/DOB inputs: isolate the component, not natural pensioner entitlement."""
+    sim = Simulation(
+        situation=cutoff_situation(year, people={"person1": {}}, component=True)
+    )
+    for variable in COHORT_VARIABLES:
+        assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is True
+    higher = sim.tax_benefit_system.parameters(
+        str(year)
+    ).gov.dwp.housing_benefit.allowances.single.aged
+    # 2015 uses the existing model rate symbolically; historical rate repair is #2207.
+    for variable in [
+        "housing_benefit_applicable_amount",
+        "council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount",
+    ]:
+        assert sim.calculate(variable, year)[0] == pytest.approx(higher * 52, abs=0.01)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("region", ["SCOTLAND", "WALES", "NORTHERN_IRELAND"])
+def test_nonenglish_ctr_component_keeps_existing_higher_route(region):
+    """England's cutoff does not introduce a new monetary gate elsewhere."""
+    year = 2021
+    sim = Simulation(situation=cutoff_situation(year, region=region, component=True))
+    assert bool(sim.calculate(COHORT_VARIABLES[1], year)[0]) is False
+    higher = sim.tax_benefit_system.parameters(
+        str(year)
+    ).gov.dwp.housing_benefit.allowances.single.aged
+    assert sim.calculate("council_tax_reduction_applicable_amount", year)[
+        0
+    ] == pytest.approx(higher * 52, abs=0.01)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("variable", COHORT_VARIABLES, ids=["hb", "ctr"])
+def test_explicit_historical_cohort_input_remains_authoritative(variable):
+    year = 2020
+    situation = cutoff_situation(year)
+    situation["benunits"]["benunit"][variable] = {year: False}
+    sim = Simulation(situation=situation)
+    assert bool(sim.calculate(variable, year)[0]) is False
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py b/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
index 4ef0a58602..b49ac4371c 100644
--- a/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
+++ b/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/dwp/housing_benefit/housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
@@ -12,16 +12,25 @@ class housing_benefit_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff(Variable):
         "did get the lower one. Other members of the benefit unit do not "
         "count. Before the "
         "cutoff took effect there was a single pension-age allowance, the "
-        "higher one, so this is true for every unit then."
+        "higher one, so this is true for every unit then. Annual 2021 "
+        "represents FY2021-22 under the model fiscal-year convention; the "
+        "cohort split commenced on 1 April 2021. This flag does not decide "
+        "pension-age eligibility."
     )
     definition_period = YEAR
     reference = (
         "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/214/schedule/3",
         "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/2/made",
         "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/406/schedule/4",
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/188/regulation/1/made",
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/70/regulation/1/made",
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/70/regulation/2/made",
     )
 
     def formula(benunit, period, parameters):
+        return np.ones(benunit.count, dtype=bool)
+
+    def formula_2021(benunit, period, parameters):
         cutoff = parameters(
             period
         ).gov.dwp.housing_benefit.allowances.pension_age_cutoff
diff --git a/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/local_authorities/council_tax_reduction/council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py b/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/local_authorities/council_tax_reduction/council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
index 6e2374f16d..e3c9a01d53 100644
--- a/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/local_authorities/council_tax_reduction/council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
+++ b/policyengine_uk/variables/gov/local_authorities/council_tax_reduction/council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff.py
@@ -12,12 +12,22 @@ class council_tax_reduction_attained_pension_age_before_cutoff(Variable):
         "pension-age personal allowance; other members of the household do "
         "not count. Before the cutoff took effect there was a single "
         "pension-age allowance, the higher one, so this is true for every unit "
-        "then."
+        "then. Annual 2021 represents FY2021-22 under the model fiscal-year "
+        "convention: the English amendment applies to financial years "
+        "beginning on or after 1 April 2021. This flag does not decide "
+        "pension-age eligibility."
     )
     definition_period = YEAR
-    reference = "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2885/schedule/2"
+    reference = (
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2885/schedule/2",
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/29/regulation/1/made",
+        "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/29/regulation/7/made",
+    )
 
     def formula(benunit, period, parameters):
+        return np.ones(benunit.count, dtype=bool)
+
+    def formula_2021(benunit, period, parameters):
         cutoff = parameters(
             period
         ).gov.dwp.housing_benefit.allowances.pension_age_cutoff