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1549521

registered interest
date	07/12/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for Pension Credit but who are not claiming it in each of the nations of the UK.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	105420
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>Estimates for Pension Credit take-up are only available at the Great Britain level. The latest statistics are in the publication: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>)</p><p>Pension Credit provides vital financial support to pensioners on a low income and we want all those who are eligible to claim it. That’s why the Department launched a £1.2m nationwide communications campaign in April to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. The campaign included:</p><ul><li>Promotion of Pension Credit on social media, via internet search engines and sponsored advertising on targeted websites that pensioners, their friends and family are likely to visit;</li><li>Information screens in Post Offices and GP surgeries across GB;</li><li>Advertising in regional and national newspapers and on national and local broadcast radio;</li><li>Advertising on the sides of buses, interior bus panels and digital street displays;</li><li>Leaflets and posters in Jobcentres, as well as digital versions which could be used by stakeholders and partners across local communities;</li><li>Engagement with Local Authorities nationwide through the Government Communication Service local network and promotional materials to enable them to support the campaign; and</li><li>In June, we held a second Pension Credit awareness media ‘day of action’ working in close collaboration with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners such as Age UK, Independent Age and the private sector to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels.</li><li>An updated digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This month we’re undertaking a further burst of communications activity, including press and radio advertising and social media focusing on highlighting to pensioners that if they apply for Pension Credit by 18 December, it will not be too late to qualify for a £324 Cost of Living Payment – subject to Pension Credit backdating rules.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, around 40 MPs attended a Pension Credit event at Portcullis House which I hosted. I was pleased to hear about the work that a number of MPs are already doing to help their constituents make a claim and also that others pledged to help promote Pension Credit ahead of 18 December.</p><p> </p><p>In the new year, DWP will again write to over 11 million pensioners as part of the annual uprating of State Pension. The accompanying leaflet has been updated to include the prominent campaign messaging promoting Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 105421 105422 question first answered 12/12/2022 15:13:06 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1549522

registered interest
date	07/12/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the total value of unclaimed pension credit in each of the nations of the UK in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	105421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>Estimates for Pension Credit take-up are only available at the Great Britain level. The latest statistics are in the publication: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>)</p><p>Pension Credit provides vital financial support to pensioners on a low income and we want all those who are eligible to claim it. That’s why the Department launched a £1.2m nationwide communications campaign in April to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. The campaign included:</p><ul><li>Promotion of Pension Credit on social media, via internet search engines and sponsored advertising on targeted websites that pensioners, their friends and family are likely to visit;</li><li>Information screens in Post Offices and GP surgeries across GB;</li><li>Advertising in regional and national newspapers and on national and local broadcast radio;</li><li>Advertising on the sides of buses, interior bus panels and digital street displays;</li><li>Leaflets and posters in Jobcentres, as well as digital versions which could be used by stakeholders and partners across local communities;</li><li>Engagement with Local Authorities nationwide through the Government Communication Service local network and promotional materials to enable them to support the campaign; and</li><li>In June, we held a second Pension Credit awareness media ‘day of action’ working in close collaboration with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners such as Age UK, Independent Age and the private sector to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels.</li><li>An updated digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This month we’re undertaking a further burst of communications activity, including press and radio advertising and social media focusing on highlighting to pensioners that if they apply for Pension Credit by 18 December, it will not be too late to qualify for a £324 Cost of Living Payment – subject to Pension Credit backdating rules.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, around 40 MPs attended a Pension Credit event at Portcullis House which I hosted. I was pleased to hear about the work that a number of MPs are already doing to help their constituents make a claim and also that others pledged to help promote Pension Credit ahead of 18 December.</p><p> </p><p>In the new year, DWP will again write to over 11 million pensioners as part of the annual uprating of State Pension. The accompanying leaflet has been updated to include the prominent campaign messaging promoting Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 105420 105422 question first answered 12/12/2022 15:13:06 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1549523

registered interest
date	07/12/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of pension credit among those who are eligible but not claiming the benefit.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	105422
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>Estimates for Pension Credit take-up are only available at the Great Britain level. The latest statistics are in the publication: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>)</p><p>Pension Credit provides vital financial support to pensioners on a low income and we want all those who are eligible to claim it. That’s why the Department launched a £1.2m nationwide communications campaign in April to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. The campaign included:</p><ul><li>Promotion of Pension Credit on social media, via internet search engines and sponsored advertising on targeted websites that pensioners, their friends and family are likely to visit;</li><li>Information screens in Post Offices and GP surgeries across GB;</li><li>Advertising in regional and national newspapers and on national and local broadcast radio;</li><li>Advertising on the sides of buses, interior bus panels and digital street displays;</li><li>Leaflets and posters in Jobcentres, as well as digital versions which could be used by stakeholders and partners across local communities;</li><li>Engagement with Local Authorities nationwide through the Government Communication Service local network and promotional materials to enable them to support the campaign; and</li><li>In June, we held a second Pension Credit awareness media ‘day of action’ working in close collaboration with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners such as Age UK, Independent Age and the private sector to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels.</li><li>An updated digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.</li></ul><p> </p><p>This month we’re undertaking a further burst of communications activity, including press and radio advertising and social media focusing on highlighting to pensioners that if they apply for Pension Credit by 18 December, it will not be too late to qualify for a £324 Cost of Living Payment – subject to Pension Credit backdating rules.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 December, around 40 MPs attended a Pension Credit event at Portcullis House which I hosted. I was pleased to hear about the work that a number of MPs are already doing to help their constituents make a claim and also that others pledged to help promote Pension Credit ahead of 18 December.</p><p> </p><p>In the new year, DWP will again write to over 11 million pensioners as part of the annual uprating of State Pension. The accompanying leaflet has been updated to include the prominent campaign messaging promoting Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 105420 105421 question first answered 12/12/2022 15:13:06 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1549524

registered interest
date	07/12/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Bereavement Support Payment: Inflation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the level of Bereavement Support Payment in line with inflation since 2017.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	105423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2022 answer text <p>The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process. Following this year’s review, Bereavement Support Payment will stay at the current rate. This means that claimants on the standard rate will continue to receive a first payment of £2,500 and 18 monthly payments of £100, and those on the higher rate will receive £3,500 followed by 18 monthly payments of £350.</p><p>Bereavement Support Payment is intended to provide working people with short-term financial support following the death of a spouse or civil partner, to help towards the additional costs associated with a death. It is not means-tested unlike income replacement benefits such as Universal Credit, which we are increasing in line with inflation to protect the least well-off. Families needing extra financial support are protected by this welfare safety net.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 12/12/2022 17:36:44 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1548960

registered interest
date	06/12/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has he made of the impact of inflation increases on British pensioners living overseas in countries without a reciprocal uprating agreement with the UK.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	104272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2022 answer text <p>DWP does not make such assessments. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions. Entitlement is based on an individual’s national insurance record. The policy on up-rating UK State Pensions overseas is long-standing and has been supported by successive post-war Governments for over 70 years. We continue to up-rate UK State Pensions abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so – for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating. There are no plans to change this policy.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott grouped question UIN 104252 104261 question first answered 14/12/2022 12:14:39 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1546431

registered interest
date	29/11/2022
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Carer's Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the weekly earning limits for Carers Allowance.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	98809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>Many carers who are receiving Carer’s Allowance are also in households receiving Universal Credit, whose structure of tapers and work allowances (where applicable) effectively takes precedence over the earnings rules in Carer’s Allowance for these carers. This helps ensure that, if they wish to work, carers on the lowest incomes are better off doing so. There is, however, no requirement for those caring for 35 hours or more a week to undertake work search whilst receiving Universal Credit. In work or out of work, these carers may also receive the Universal Credit Carer Element, worth around an additional £2,000 a year.</p><p>Some carers may not be able to receive Universal Credit, for example due to their levels of household capital or income. These carers may only be receiving Carer’s Allowance. This is not means-tested and not based on National Insurance contributions. It has an earnings limit which permits carers to undertake some part-time work if they are able to do so. This recognises the benefits of staying in touch with the workplace, including greater financial independence and social interaction.</p><p>We know that some carers who are above Universal Credit thresholds are keen to maintain contact with the labour market, so we want to encourage carers in this position to combine some paid work with their caring duties wherever possible. That is why we regularly increase the earnings limit when it is warranted and affordable. The Carer’s Allowance earnings limit is currently £132 a week. Subject to Parliamentary approval, this will increase to £139 a week from April 2023. This will mean that the earnings limit will have increased by over one third since 2010.</p><p>It should be noted that Carer’s Allowance is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. While the Scottish Government builds its capacity to replace it with Scottish Carer’s Assistance, DWP Ministers have agreed that DWP will administer Carer’s Allowance on behalf of the Scottish Ministers under an agency agreement. For as long as that agreement is in place, the Scottish Ministers need to ensure that Carer’s Allowance rules and rates in Scotland maintains legislative parity with Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 02/12/2022 15:00:29 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady