To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects on recipients of reducing the length of time for which pension tax credit may be backdated from 12 to three months. (209799)

[holding answer 9 June 2008]: The Department has conducted an equality impact assessment in respect of the proposed changes to the time for claiming pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit for those of pension credit age from 12 to three months and of the proposed change to the backdating period allowed within housing benefit and council tax benefit for working age customers from 52 weeks to three months. The equality impact assessment has been published on the Department for Work and Pensions website and can be accessed using the following link.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/PC-HB-CTB-EIA-Apr08.pdf