Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Income Tax Policies: Pensioners

Tuesday 19 March 2024 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have nearly doubled the personal allowance since 2010.
  • Pensioners whose sole income is the full rate of the new state pension or basic-rate pension do not pay any income tax.
  • Government Members support pensioners through measures such as the triple lock and pension credit.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns about the impact of recent changes in personal allowance thresholds, which affect pensioners receiving full state pensions plus protected payments from older schemes.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the impact of income tax policies on pensioners? Pensioners in North Shropshire who receive a full state pension plus protected payments have seen their incomes rise above the personal allowance threshold, leading to income tax implications that reduce the real value of their pensions.

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

The Government have nearly doubled the personal allowance since 2010, and in 2024-25 it will be more than 20% higher in real terms. Pensioners whose sole income is the full rate of the new state pension or basic-rate pension do not pay any income tax.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific intention behind dragging certain pensioners into paying income tax was not addressed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Pensioners in North Shropshire receiving full state pensions plus protected payments from older schemes have seen their incomes rise above the personal allowance threshold, resulting in additional income tax.

Question

I have been contacted by pensioners who receive a full state pension plus protected payments. The inflation-linked increase has pushed them over the personal allowance threshold for paying income tax, reducing the real value of these increases. Was this the Minister's intention?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

Pensioners have gained approximately £1,000 on average as a result of Government decisions since 2010. We support pensioners through measures such as the triple lock and pension credit. An 8.5% increase is coming in April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific intention behind dragging certain pensioners into paying income tax was not addressed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Andrea Jenkyns Con
Immigration Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns about the allocation of funds to France, spending on hotels for illegal migrants, and foreign aid budget affecting pensioners' benefits.

Question

I welcome recent tax cuts. To support pensioners further, can we stop allocating funds to France, reduce costs for hotels housing illegal migrants, and cut foreign aid? Then we could give more to our pensioners.

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

Government Members are tackling problems while supporting workers and pensioners through measures like tax cuts, turning the economy around and putting more money back in people's pockets.

Not addressed: The specific request to reallocate funds from migration issues to support pensioners was not addressed

How: Changing Subject

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)