Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pension Credit

Monday 7 October 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 Department is running a national campaign since September to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit.
  • Local authorities and devolved Governments are working with the Department to boost the take-up of pension credit.
  • Sixteen local authorities responded positively to the Department's call for action to increase pension credit uptake.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Davies Lab Colne Valley
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from concerns about low uptake of pension credit which leads to many pensioners not receiving necessary financial support.

Question

I am concerned that many pensioners are not claiming the pension credit they are entitled to. What steps is her Department taking to help increase uptake of pension credit?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

We have been running a national campaign since September across a range of channels, including print and broadcast media, to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. We will continue to work with external partners, local authorities and devolved Governments to boost the take-up of pension credit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify concrete measures beyond an ongoing campaign and general collaboration.

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Q2 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Benefits & Welfare
Context

A large percentage of pensioners in Mid Bedfordshire are losing the winter fuel payment, causing financial hardship for some who earn less than £1,000 a month.

Question

Around 93% of pensioners in Mid Bedfordshire face losing the winter fuel payment this year; some of them earn less than £1,000 a month. What further support will the Minister give them to fill Labour's black hole in their household finances so that they can keep warm this winter?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The winter fuel payment was once described as the “largest benefit paid to pensioners…regardless of need, giving money to wealthier pensioners when working people on lower incomes do not get similar support.” Those are not my words, but the words of the Tories' 2017 manifesto.

Not addressed: Does not address further financial support for pensioners losing winter fuel payment.

How: Attacking Opposition

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Q3 Paul Davies Lab Colne Valley
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Previous government collaboration with local authorities and charities during the pension credit week of action suggests potential for further measures to increase uptake.

Question

Claiming pension credit can provide pensioners with additional help for housing costs, council tax and heating bills. We all have a duty to boost pension credit uptake to ensure that low-income pensioners in all our constituencies receive the necessary support. I welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister and the Work and Pensions Secretary collaborating with local authorities and charities for the annual pension credit week of action, which took place during recess. What more can be done to ensure that low-income pensioners receive pension credit?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

We were pleased to see 160 local authorities respond positively to our call for action. They are working with us to drive the boost in uptake of pension credit. Apart from the national campaign that we have been running, we will bring together the administration of housing benefit and pension credit in a way that the former Government failed to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Does not specify concrete actions beyond collaboration with local authorities and vague improvements over previous government's efforts.

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