Fresh changes to benefits could cost some couples up to £7,000-a-year, putting a “huge strain” on scores of families across the county.

The changes to pension credit could leave some couples up to £140-a-week worse off, Age UK has warned, after the Government announced changes to benefits for mixed-age couples which will be introduced from May 15.

The move was criticised at a meeting of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday by Lib Dem group leader Councillor Roger Evans, who brandished the changes as “astonishing”.

Cllr Evans said the charity claimed the changes effectively mean some couples may find themselves in the “absurd position” of being financially better off if they split up and live apart.

It said this is because, once the change is implemented, the pensioner partner would, in many cases, be eligible for more money from their pension credit than they and their partner would get together from Universal Credit.

At present, couples can claim pension credit of £255.25 per week if only one of them has reached state pension age.

But in future people in such circumstances may only be able to claim less-generous Universal Credit payments of around £115 per week, Cllr Evans said – a difference which could add up to around £7,000 per year.

Cllr Evans said: “This is something that is going to affect age gap couples in Shropshire, of which there will be scores.

“It is going to put a huge strain on some couples. As we know, partnerships come in all shapes and sizes and all ages.

“This is punishing people for being in a relationship with someone who is not the same age as them.

“It will see a significant cut in what people can claim and will have a huge impact yet again on our most hard-up and poorest members of our community.

“They will not be getting anywhere near what they are now and I call on the cabinet to back my motion not to support this attack on age gap couples.

“It is coming in May this year and I am worried. It is yet another cut on our most vulnerable.”

The Cabinet said it wouldn’t back the motion until it was further down the line and could be looked at in more depth.