Pension Credit 2023-09-04
2023-09-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been running a campaign to boost pension credit take-up.
What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of eligible people claiming pension credit. The DWP has conducted an extensive campaign across TV, radio and social media, and with partner organisations, to boost pension credit take-up, with a number of pushes being made before cost of living payment deadlines.
The DWP has conducted an extensive campaign across TV, radio and social media, and with partner organisations, to boost pension credit take-up, with a number of pushes being made before cost of living payment deadlines. Applications were up by 75% in the year to May.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
A constituent of Vicky Ford's sent a message suggesting that asylum seekers receive more benefits than pensioners, which is believed to be inaccurate.
One of my Chelmsford constituents sent me a message that has been circulating recently. It suggests that asylum seekers are entitled to receive more in benefits than pensioners; I believe that is not accurate. For the record, will the Minister confirm what support is available for pensioners, compared with that for asylum seekers?
Let me reassure my right hon. Friend and her constituents that asylum seekers are given no recourse to public funds. They are given payment for their food and shelter, but they are unable to claim benefits. Pensioners in her constituency will receive a state pension, if they qualify, which for the first time is worth on average more than £200 per week or over £10,000 a year. Pensioners who have not built up sufficient contributions may be eligible for pension credits, worth on average £3,500 per year, to top up their income. They are also eligible to receive the cost of living payment, if they ever receive pension credit, and the pensioner cost of living payment.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
At events across Wyre, many pensioners have been suffering due to the cost of living crisis.
Over the summer, I held events in villages across Wyre in my constituency. I was approached by many pensioners who are suffering because of the cost of living crisis; pension credit is just not plugging the gap. At my “Chat with Cat” event in Pilling, a constituent asked me why 400,000 more pensioners are living in poverty than when Labour left office.
There are 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty than when Labour left office.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address the increase of 400,000 more pensioners living in poverty; instead it provided a figure showing reduction in poverty numbers since another government's time in office without addressing why there is an increased number under current circumstances.
Changing Subject
Response accuracy