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1725661

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
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	Winter Fuel Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on those no longer eligible for that payment.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	3026
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.</p><p></p><p>Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control.</p><p></p><p>Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over.</p><p> </p><p>We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock. Protecting the Triple Lock even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.</p><p> </p><p>The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.  An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 09/09/2024 15:02:39 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725662

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
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: Take-up
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the take-up of pension credit.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	3027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the current Pension Credit Week of Action, we have joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.</p><p> </p><p>From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.</p><p> </p><p>Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p> </p><p>We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds grouped question UIN 3146 3894 question first answered 05/09/2024 15:37:40 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725681

registered interest
date	30/08/2024
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Redundancy Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	3037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>The details of severance payments made to former ministers can be found in our Annual Report &amp; Accounts.</p><p>Information for the 2024/25 financial year will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Stretford and Urmston answering member printed Andrew Western question first answered 09/09/2024 14:55:11 answering member 4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1696454

registered interest
date	15/03/2024
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	Universal Credit: Rents
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 ensure that social housing tenants who receive Universal Credit are not financially affected by the 53-week rent year in the 2024-25 financial year.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	18923
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>In the financial year 2024-25 social housing tenants will face 52 weekly rent payment days so Universal Credit will make provision for the exact amount of their liability.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. This may lead to a slight advantage to the claimant when converting weekly incomes and to a slight disadvantage when dealing with outgoings. The system is used because it is simple to operate and understand. The department has considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants and so there are no plans to change.</p><p> </p><p>The legitimacy of this calculation formula in Universal Credit was confirmed by the High Court in 2020 who found it to be neither irrational or discriminatory.</p><p> </p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/03/2024 12:10:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse