Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Winter Fuel Payment: Pensioner Poverty

Monday 16 December 2024 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Richard Holden questioned the impact of means-testing winter fuel payments on pensioner poverty.
  • The Minister highlighted an awareness campaign for pension credit that has resulted in an increase in claims.
  • Kirsty Blackman inquired about the number of people who have signed up for pension credit since July and additional steps being taken.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question is prompted by the potential impact of means-testing on pensioners' winter fuel payments, with a specific concern about an estimated 880,000 poor pensioners not claiming pension credit under the previous Conservative government.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on levels of pensioner poverty? Before the last general election, Labour suggested that removal of the winter fuel payment would mean an extra 4,000 pensioners dying from freezing in poverty each year. How many will die under this Government's policy this year?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Under the last Conservative Government, an estimated 880,000 of the poorest pensioners eligible for pension credit were not claiming it. We have launched the biggest ever pension credit awareness campaign and written to 120,000 pensioners on housing benefit, urging them to apply. As a result, claims for pension credit have more than doubled, and those who receive pension credit will also receive winter fuel payments and other related benefits. The Government remain committed to supporting low-income pensioners through the household support fund, which local authorities can use to help people with their bills. The Minister for Energy Consumers has raised £500 million from energy suppliers to help vulnerable consumers in debt.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a death toll estimate or assessment of the impact on pensioner poverty this year.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question stems from the issue of billions in pension credit going unclaimed under the Conservative government, with local organisations and council teams driving up claims.

Question

Under the Conservatives, billions in pension credit went unclaimed. The burden for driving up claims often lies in fantastic organisations such as Christians Against Poverty, the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre and Citizens Advice Falkirk and Denny, as well as the brilliant Falkirk council welfare benefits team in my constituency. What assurance can the Minister give me that beyond 21 December her Department will work tirelessly to prevent billions in benefits from being left unclaimed?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Indeed, we have taken forward the biggest awareness campaign for claiming pension credit that has ever been seen. We are determined that those on the lowest incomes should claim pension credit and be awarded it, which will passport them to winter fuel payments and other related benefits.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assurances beyond 21 December.

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Q3 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Scotland Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question is prompted by the Scottish Government bringing back winter fuel payments, highlighting the impact of not having these benefits in place.

Question

The Scottish Government are bringing back the winter fuel payment because we are aware what an awful disaster this has been for the Labour Government. People are terrified to switch on their heating. Will the Minister please explain to pensioners living in poverty circumstances but not eligible for pension credit what they should do this winter? Should they just wear an extra blanket?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

The Scottish Government have been given a record settlement in the recent Budget. As the hon. Member knows, winter fuel payments and other benefits are devolved to the Scottish Government.

Not addressed: Did not address pensioners' options for support this winter.

How: Devolution

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Q4 Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question is prompted by a thermals collection in York, highlighting older people's struggles this winter.

Question

I thank the residents of York for donating to my thermals collection on Saturday, but I know that older people in the city of York will really struggle this winter. Will the Minister say how many people across the country have signed up to pension credit since July and what additional steps will be taken to ensure that those who miss the 21 December deadline will still be able to get support to keep warm this winter?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Claims have more than doubled—they have increased by 145% since late July—and we are working at pace to process those claims. We have deployed an additional 500 staff to ensure that those on the lowest incomes get the pension credit that they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address additional steps for missed deadlines.

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Q5 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question is prompted by the potential impact of means-testing on pensioners' winter fuel payments.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on levels of pensioner poverty? Before the last general election, Labour suggested that removal of the winter fuel payment would mean an extra 4,000 pensioners dying from freezing in poverty each year. How many will die under this Government's policy this year?

Answer from Emma Reynolds

Under the last Conservative Government, an estimated 880,000 of the poorest pensioners eligible for pension credit were not claiming it. We have launched the biggest ever pension credit awareness campaign and written to 120,000 pensioners on housing benefit, urging them to apply. As a result, claims for pension credit have more than doubled, and those who receive pension credit will also receive winter fuel payments and other related benefits.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide assessment or death toll estimate.

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