Pension Credit Take-up 2025-02-03
2025-02-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The latest figures show that at least 800,000 eligible pensioners are not claiming pension credit, which means they have lost out on the winter fuel payment.
What steps she is taking to increase take-up of pension credit. The latest figures show that at least 800,000 pensioners are eligible for pension credit but do not claim it, which means they have now also lost out on the winter fuel payment that they previously would have enjoyed. Does the Minister think that means-testing is working?
It is important that 1.5 million pensioners will receive the winter fuel payments this winter. The statistics my hon. Friend refers to relate to previous years, before the recent take-up campaign. However, he is right to highlight that under the Conservative Government, three in 10 eligible pensioners were missing out.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address whether means-testing was working and did not provide further steps beyond the ongoing campaign.
Raised Previous Years' Statistics
Acknowledged Past Underperformance Without Committing To Future Action
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Household bills across the constituency have risen significantly, leading to pensioners just above the cut-off for pension credit facing financial strain.
In recent days and weeks, household bills across my constituency have gone up and up and up. Many who miss out on pension credit because they are just above the cut-off will now be wondering where they will find that extra money. Will the Government think again about the removal of the winter fuel payment and ensure that pension credit is rolled out on a taper?
It is important that we keep driving up the take-up of pension credit, but that is not the only support available to pensioners: everyone will see the state pension rise by over 4% this April; the household support fund is very important and will be extended for another year; and the warm home discount is available to the poorest pensioners.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the reconsideration of winter fuel payment removal or tapering system for pension credit eligibility.
Changed Subject To Other Support Measures
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Government figures show an additional 42,500 households have claimed pension credit but this is only about 5% of all those eligible who were not claiming it. Constituency MPs are supporting people struggling with cold and financial balances.
Government figures show that an additional 42,500 households have claimed pension credit, yet that is only about 5% of all those eligible who were not claiming it. As constituency MPs, we are having to support people who are really struggling with the cold and their financial balances. Will the Minister think about setting up a pensioner poverty taskforce, so we can really get underneath the issues facing older people?
I am sure that all Members, on both sides of the House, are providing support to their constituents—pensioners, those of working age and children—to ensure they can cope following a difficult few years for everyone because of the cost of living crisis. On pensioner poverty specifically, it is important that we update our understanding of how that has developed. If we look at the record, we see that pensioner poverty halved under the previous Labour Government, but rose by 300,000 under the Tory Government over the past 14 years.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to setting up a taskforce and instead compared current performance with that of previous governments without providing new measures.
Compared Record With Previous Labour Government
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Changes to the warm home discount linking it to age and property size have affected many pensioners who are now losing both this benefit and the winter fuel payment.
Those on the guaranteed element of pension credit receive the warm home discount, but many do not. Following the changes made a couple of years ago, linking the warm home discount to the age and size of a property, have the Government made any assessment of how many people have been affected the double whammy of losing the warm home discount and the winter fuel payment?
I have heard the hon. Gentleman’s comment and will raise it with the responsible Minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, but it is important that all pensioners who are entitled to support get it. That is what the Government are focused on.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide an assessment of impact and instead deferred to another department without a clear commitment.
Deferred To Another Department
Response accuracy