Key Facts

• The Bill amends the Social Security Administration Act 1992 temporarily.
• There has been a provisional decline in average weekly earnings of 1% due to COVID-19 impacts.
• Scottish Ministers laid a legislative consent motion for Scotland, passed by the Scottish Parliament yesterday.
• Northern Ireland can make a corresponding order under existing power without new primary legislation.
• The Bill aims to correct drafting issues in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 allowing no uprating of state pensions if national earnings are negative.
• There is a precedent from previous Labour Government legislation following the global financial crisis.
• Rising longevity is presented as an achievement rather than a problem.
• Lane Clark & Peacock suggested applying the triple lock over two years instead of one to smooth out distortions in earnings statistics.
• The Bill will ensure that state pension increases are safeguarded next year.
• Pensioner poverty affects over 2 million people across the UK, with many missing out on benefits such as pension credit.
• More than 1,500 pensioner households in Delyn miss out on £3.2 million due to low benefit take-up rates.
• Earnings fell by 0.1% in the three months to July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• The Bill allows the Government to meet the requirements of the triple lock, a manifesto commitment.
• Industrial death benefit falls within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament with an agreement on a legislative consent motion.
• Independent Age reports alarming statistics about pensioners in poverty.
• Trussell Trust forecasts food bank use could surge by 61% in the coming months.
• The Scottish child payment programme will be open for applications in November, with first payments starting in February 2021.
• Six in ten eligible people were claiming pension credit in 2017-18.
• Only 70% of the total amount of pension credit that could have been claimed was actually claimed.
• The Social Metrics Commission estimated that 1.3 million pension-age adults are living in poverty as of 2020.
• Pensioner poverty had fallen substantially since the introduction of pension credit but has started increasing over the past five years.
• The Bill allows for an increase in state pensions but does not specify the amount.
• Pension credits are also set to increase.
• The Liberal Democrats support maintaining the triple lock on pensions, which guarantees a minimum of 2.5% annual rise.
• There is concern about intergenerational fairness and the impact of artificial wage growth due to pandemic-related job losses and furloughing.
• The debate covers a wide range of topics including pensioner poverty, legacy benefits, and intergenerational fairness.
• The hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephens) highlighted the importance of addressing pension credit take-up.
• The right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms) spoke about the impact of the pandemic on social security systems.
• Material deprivation for pensioners fell from 10% in 2009-10 to 6% in 2018-19.
• There are 100,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty before and after housing costs than in 2009-10.
• Average weekly income for pensioners increased from £165 a week in 1994-95 to £320 a week in 2018-19.
• Forecasted spending on pensioners is £126 billion annually, including £102 billion on state pension.
• Pension credit for single persons increased from £132.60 to £173.75 under the coalition and current Government.
• Claims for pension credit increased dramatically in July 2020 compared with January 2020.
• Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit standard allowance was increased by £1,040 this year, benefiting 4 million families.
• The Bill ensures state pensions can be uprated for financial peace of mind during the pandemic.