Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pension Credit: Uptake 2024-11-11 (2)

Monday 11 November 2024 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Estimates show that more than 800,000 pensioners are entitled to Pension Credit but are not claiming it.
  • The deadline for applying for Pension Credit remains 21 December.
  • The Government's commitment to the triple lock ensures that more than 12 million pensioners will see their pension increase by over 4% in April next year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Estimates show that over 800,000 pensioners are eligible for but not receiving Pension Credit. The Chancellor's decision to tie winter fuel allowance to Pension Credit will affect thousands of vulnerable pensioners.

Question

What estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners eligible for Pension Credit but not claiming it?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Estimates show that more than 800,000 pensioners—individual pensioners, not households—are entitled to pension credit but are not claiming it.

Answered
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Q2 Clive Jones Lib Dem Wokingham
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The Chancellor's decision to tie winter fuel allowance to Pension Credit will affect 16,577 pensioners in Wokingham. The uptake of Pension Credit is very low.

Question

With 16,577 pensioners in Wokingham expected to be affected by the cuts, will she extend the deadline to apply for pension credit and consider pledging further support to increase take-up?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The deadline remains 21 December. Thanks to the Government's commitment to the triple lock, more than 12 million pensioners will see their pension increase by over 4% in April next year, up to £470. Over this Parliament, they will be better off by around £1,900. Low-income pensioners can apply for the warm home discount scheme and local authorities can target support on low-income pensioners through the household support fund.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Extending the deadline to apply for Pension Credit and pledging further support

How: Referring To Other Benefits

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