Support for Pensioners 2024-03-18
2024-03-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
No specific event mentioned, but the question asks about general support measures.
What steps his Department is taking to support pensioners. In 2023-24 we will spend over £152 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain—5.9% of GDP—including a forecast £125.4 billion on the state pension.
In 2023-24 we will spend over £152 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain—5.9% of GDP—including a forecast £125.4 billion on the state pension.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
South Derbyshire pensioners have been in touch with the MP following the Budget, stating that it seemed to offer them nothing.
Would he be kind enough to set out today the help that the Government have given and are giving to pensioners, to help them realise that “nothing” is far from the reality of what a Conservative Government are giving them?
The state pension will be raised by 8.5% in April, after an increase of 10.1% last year, meaning that it will be a full £3,200 higher in cash terms than it was in 2010.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Pensioners in the constituency have contacted about the effects of fiscal drag on their modest private pensions.
What steps is my hon. Friend taking in conjunction with the Treasury to ensure that we can get pensioners on modest private pensions out of tax?
The personal allowance has nearly doubled since 2010, ensuring that most of the lowest earners do not pay income tax. Around 30% of individuals do not pay tax, and any pensioner solely reliant on the state pension does not pay income tax.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question refers to the increase in council tax by £200 per year and ULZ charges to £12.50 per day.
It is disgraceful that the Labour Mayor of London has hammered pensioners and working people in Bexley by increasing council tax by approximately £200 per year, and ultra low emission zone charges to £12.50 per day?
The Mayor of London seems to spend more time paying extremely expensive salaries to some of his key employees around Greater London. Of course, ULEZ has an effect on pensioners: whether they are going to the shops, visiting their family or attending hospital appointments, they will be the ones to pay the price for the Mayor's overweening ambition.
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Assessment & feedback
Increase in council tax and ULEZ charges
Changes Subject
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent was informed by the DWP that they must renew their personal independence payment entitlement, resulting in a stoppage of PIP and an owed amount.
Could I implore the Minister to intervene in this astounding case and work out exactly how this error could have occurred?
If she writes to me with further details, I will ensure that the relevant Minister is able to look into the case.
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Assessment & feedback
No clear commitment to intervene directly
Requires Follow-Up
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Over 9 million pensioners are now paying income tax, and almost 1 million not receiving pension credit to which they are rightly entitled.
Does the Minister think it might be time to improve the uptake of pension credit?
Applications to receive pension credit are currently increasing, quarter on quarter.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
A constituent applied for pension credit in August 2023 but was still waiting for the application to be resolved, resulting in a backdating of more than £8,000.
Would that money not have been much better in the pocket of a pensioner who needed it right then, rather than waiting indefinitely for the DWP to get back to them?
It is not something I hear very often about pension credit. We have an excellent delivery record and an extremely low level of complaints.
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Assessment & feedback
No concrete measures to address delays
Minimises Issue
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
10,000 WASPI women across Southend have issues due to the ombudsman's final report.
Will the Secretary of State please commit to coming to the House to make a statement so that these issues can be fully aired?
I am not able to comment until the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report is published.
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Assessment & feedback
Defers Decision
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a shortage of skilled labour and an army of pensioners who could be retained if given the right incentives.
Will the Minister act?
We put a lot of effort, not just through the mid-life MOT but through the older worker support in our jobcentres, to make sure that we match jobseekers to the right job for them.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific action mentioned
General Statement
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the impact of government policies on pensioners, including the suspension of the triple lock, economic impacts from a previous mini-budget, and current issues with heating costs versus food expenses.
Time and again, pensioners have been let down by this Government. They suspended the triple lock, breaking a key manifesto promise; their disastrous mini-Budget knocked hundreds of billions of pounds from pension pots; and their failure to get a grip on the cost of living means that pensioners are mainly living in cold homes over the winter and have a choice between heating or eating. Against this backdrop, is the Minister at all surprised that almost one in five pensioners are now living in poverty?
It is as if the shadow Minister has not noticed the almost £900 of cost of living payments made to pension credit recipients across the country over the last year. I know the Opposition have relied on last week's Resolution Foundation report to criticise what we are doing, but this is what the report actually says: 'Pensioners used to be by far the most likely to be in poverty…now they are the least likely.' This change in the relationship between old age and low income is one of the most profound social and economic changes this country has seen. We achieved that under this Government, not under our failed Labour predecessors.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about pensioner poverty was sidestepped by highlighting government achievements according to a report and criticising opposition claims.
Changed Subject
Criticised Opposition
Response accuracy