Cold Weather Payments 2022-10-31
2022-10-31
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP raises concerns about the effectiveness of cold weather payment criteria, noting that the current rate has not been updated since 2008.
What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the criteria for cold weather payments. The £25 cold weather payment rate has not been updated since 2008. In today's money, it should be worth £37. Parts of Blaenau Gwent are more than 1,000 feet above sea level, and the constituency itself is one of the most deprived in the UK. Will the Secretary of State look again at the criteria for this scheme? Surely areas with bad weather, higher energy costs and lower incomes should get a fairer deal.
I welcome the hon. Gentleman's question, because these are very important payments. They are automatic, as he will know. Typically, they are received within 14 days and they are targeted at those who are most vulnerable. His point about the particular local conditions and the elevation of parts of his constituency are well made and I would be very happy to have further discussions with him about that. There are 72 different weather stations to serve as reference points for different temperatures.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific request to review criteria, instead offered to discuss it further.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Continuing from the previous question, the MP seeks to understand if there is a need for updating criteria based on local conditions.
Mr Speaker, may I associate myself with your remarks about the Pelosi family? I congratulate the right hon. Member on his appointment. The £25 cold weather payment rate has not been updated since 2008. In today's money, it should be worth £37. Parts of Blaenau Gwent are more than 1,000 feet above sea level, and the constituency itself is one of the most deprived in the UK. Will the Secretary of State look again at the criteria for this scheme? Surely areas with bad weather, higher energy costs and lower incomes should get a fairer deal.
I welcome the hon. Gentleman's question, because these are very important payments. They are automatic, as he will know. Typically, they are received within 14 days and they are targeted at those who are most vulnerable. His point about the particular local conditions and the elevation of parts of his constituency are well made and I would be very happy to have further discussions with him about that. There are 72 different weather stations to serve as reference points for different temperatures.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific request to review criteria, instead offered to discuss it further.
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the progress made by the Department to increase uptake of pension credit, a benefit that qualifies individuals for cold weather payments.
I welcome my right hon. Friend to his new position. Will he tell the House what progress his Department is making to increase the uptake of pension credit, which means that more vulnerable elderly people will be eligible for cold weather payments?
My hon. Friend is right to raise this very important benefit, pension credit. The Department has been fully engaged in encouraging pensioners who will qualify to take up this benefit. It is worth more than £3,000 a year and it acts as a gateway for other benefits. A week of effort back in June saw the uptake increase by 275%.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy