Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pension Credit Uptake

Wednesday 12 July 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has been running a campaign since April last year to increase awareness and uptake of pension credit.
  • The Minister announced an Invitation to Claim trial involving 2600 households across ten local authorities this summer.
  • The Department for Work and Pensions received around 21,000 claims in two weeks before 19 May, which was 171% higher compared to the same period in 2022.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from discussions on raising awareness and increasing take-up of pension credit for retired individuals. There has been a notable increase in applications.

Question

What discussions have you had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on increasing the uptake of pension credit among older people?

Answer from Mims Davies

Since April last year, we have been running a substantial campaign to raise awareness and increase take-up. Applications for pension credit were around 75% higher in the year to May 2023 than in the same period the year before.

Answered
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Q2 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question highlights the work done by the MP to assist constituents in applying for pension credit and calls out the Minister's lack of action.

Question

My retired constituents from various areas know I am a champion for their rights. Why is she not telling me anything that gives me comfort that she is actually going to champion them? When will she start doing that?

Answer from Mims Davies

Many MPs use the Help to Claim service or the benefits calculator to assist constituents. The Minister responsible for pensions announced the Invitation to Claim trial, involving 2,600 households across 10 local authorities this summer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific actions and timelines

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Q3 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses a reluctance among entitled individuals to claim pension credit and seeks actions to address this issue.

Question

What action is she taking to break down that taboo, so that people who are fully entitled to this money and desperately need it actually claim it?

Answer from Mims Davies

Some people do not come forward due to make-up. We need to help them be encouraged that they are absolutely entitled to the benefit. In two weeks before 19 May, DWP received around 21,000 claims which was 171% up compared with the corresponding weeks in 2022.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific measures and encouragement tactics

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