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1126824

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Credit Unions: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she next plans to visit Northern Ireland to discuss ways in which Credit Unions can expand their services.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	254751
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>In July 2018, as Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion I individually and collectively met with a number of Credit Unions in Northern Ireland as part of a roundtable event for key stakeholders and practitioners in this field. I look forward to returning to visit Northern Ireland soon.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:39:02 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1126912

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an equality impact assessment has been undertaken on the potential effect of changes to the eligibility rules for (a) pension credit and (b) housing benefit on women in mixed-age couples.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	254834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Before the matter was debated in the passage of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 the government did the 2011 Universal Credit Equality Impact Assessment then there has been ongoing equality analysis of the mixed age couple change. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment</a></p><p> </p><p>On 28 February 2019, the DWP published a research and analysis paper relating to mixed age couples estimated to be affected by the change in policy: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit</a></p><p> </p><p>It shows that the vast majority of mixed age couples comprised a male and female partner. There is no indication that the change will have a disproportionate impact on the basis of sex.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:47:59 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1126913

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has assessed the potential cost of providing transitional protection to mixed-age couples moving from pension credit and housing benefit to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	254835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couples change will not apply to couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners on 14 May for as long as they remain entitled to either benefit. DWP wrote earlier this year to those mixed age couples already receiving Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners to ensure they know about the change and how they could be affected if their circumstances change on or after 15 May.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would be eligible for the pension age benefits under the current rules but have not claimed before 15 May will have up to 13 August to make a backdated claim to 14 May and we have encouraged them to do so.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:34:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1125882

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2019
	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: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 217138, what designation has been assigned to those complaints.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	252883
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer previously given in response to Question 217138. The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which form the basis of this group of complaints, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department. The Department cannot evaluate the potential merits of making such a request until the legal proceedings have been concluded.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 252884 question first answered 15/05/2019 09:21:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1125883

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2019
	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: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2019 to Question 217138, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of her Department instructing the Independent Case Examiner to reopen complaints relating to the equalisation of the state pension age cases in the event that legal proceedings fall away.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Ged Killen
	uin	252884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer previously given in response to Question 217138. The Independent Case Examiner closed all live complaints concerning changes to women’s State Pension age when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract. In the event the legal proceedings fall away or there is no determination on the matters which form the basis of this group of complaints, the Independent Case Examiner could consider reopening the cases at the request of the Department. The Department cannot evaluate the potential merits of making such a request until the legal proceedings have been concluded.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 252883 question first answered 15/05/2019 09:21:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

1125889

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2019
	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, if his Department will make an estimate of the potential cost of amending annual Winter Fuel Payment letters to include a paragraph inviting recipients to donate their payment to a charitable cause.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	252837
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Recipients of Winter Fuel Payments are free to use them in the way they choose, including donating them to a charity of their choice. There is evidence that some people choose to do this already.</p><p> </p><p>Currently the Department cannot estimate the potential cost of this specific proposal, but is always open to suggestions from the chair of the WPSC. Digital reform of the Winter Fuel Payment Service is underway and will mean that from 2020/21 the Department could consider using newer technologies that may offer more flexibility over making improvements to the letters. As with the development of all digital services, user research will be an important factor in improving the letters to ensure they meet everyone’s needs, and in particular that the needs of vulnerable people are carefully considered.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:21:20 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1125459

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	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	Television Licences: Older People
	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 the public purse was of providing free television licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Glasgow City local authority area and (c) Scotland in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	252116
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The policy for free TV licences for those aged 75 and over is the responsibility of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport until the BBC takes responsibility in 2020.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 years and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(a) Glasgow South West constituency</strong></p></td><td><p>£0.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(b) Glasgow City local authority</strong></p></td><td><p>£4.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(c) Scotland</strong></p></td><td><p>£51.7</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 14/05/2019 15:44:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 117714 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1125019

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has plans to introduce the Pensions Bill before summer 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
	tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
	uin	251381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>This Government has recently published responses to a series of consultations, and have engaged extensively with key stakeholders and the Pensions Regulator.</p><p> </p><p>In these we have committed to strengthen the Pensions Regulator’s powers to both enforce pension’s legislation and to punish those who have acted recklessly or failed to comply with their obligations. We have committed to facilitate industry to make pensions dashboards a reality. We are also compelling pension schemes to make consumers data available to them and to facilitate collective defined contribution schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will bring forward legislation to introduce these measures as soon as parliamentary time permits.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 14/05/2019 15:14:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 117711 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1124612

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 247596, what assessment he has made of the factors influencing the decline in views of the Pension Credit toolkit: landing page from 2014 to 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	250446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Pension Credit toolkit is an on-line tool aimed at agencies and welfare rights organisations to help them encourage Pension Credit take-up. The toolkit landing page can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The advice and guidance for stakeholders toolkit page can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders</a></p><p /><p>An assessment of the viewings of these web pages has not been undertaken.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/05/2019 15:11:07 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1124171

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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, for what reasons not all UK pensioners living overseas receive annual pension uprating.
	tabling member constituency	North Thanet
	tabling member printed	Sir Roger Gale
	uin	249790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Since WW2 successive Governments, Labour, the Coalition and Conservatives have had the same policy. The policy on up-rating the UK State Pension abroad is long-standing and unchanged. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and they are up-rated for overseas residents where there is a legal requirement to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The cost of up-rating State Pensions would increase by more than £3 billion over five years if payments to recipients in countries where they are not currently up-rated were increased to the rates payable had the recipients never left the UK. It is not proposed to change this policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249963 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	87 label Biography information for Sir Roger Gale

1124222

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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: Reciprocal Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the UK leaving the EU without a deal would have on reciprocal pension agreements with EU member states.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	249961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has consistently put citizens’ rights first in our negotiations with the EU. The best way to guarantee those rights, which include social security, both for UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, is the deal that the Government has secured. The Government supported the amendment put forward by Alberto Costa MP which requires the Government to seek a joint UK/EU commitment to preserve the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the outcome of negotiations. The letter to the European Commission setting out the Government’s position and the Commission’s reply is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions</a></p><p> </p><p>The current EU arrangements providing for reciprocity in social security would no longer apply if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249962 question first answered 14/05/2019 13:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124223

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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: Reciprocal Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions the Government have held with (a) the EU and (b) individual EU member states on reciprocal pension agreements after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	249962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has consistently put citizens’ rights first in our negotiations with the EU. The best way to guarantee those rights, which include social security, both for UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, is the deal that the Government has secured. The Government supported the amendment put forward by Alberto Costa MP which requires the Government to seek a joint UK/EU commitment to preserve the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the outcome of negotiations. The letter to the European Commission setting out the Government’s position and the Commission’s reply is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions</a></p><p> </p><p>The current EU arrangements providing for reciprocity in social security would no longer apply if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249961 question first answered 14/05/2019 13:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124224

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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, for what reasons the Government has not agreed to uprate the pensions of UK nationals resident outside the EU; and if will she make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	249963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Since WW2 successive Governments, Labour, the Coalition and Conservatives have had the same policy. The policy on up-rating the UK State Pension abroad is long-standing and unchanged. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and they are up-rated for overseas residents where there is a legal requirement to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The cost of up-rating State Pensions would increase by more than £3 billion over five years if payments to recipients in countries where they are not currently up-rated were increased to the rates payable had the recipients never left the UK. It is not proposed to change this policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249790 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124225

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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, whether the Government has made an (a) reciprocal or (b) unilateral agreement to maintain the annual increases to the pensions of UK citizens residing in the Republic of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	249964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK and Ireland signed on the 1 February 2019 a reciprocal agreement which will protect the social security rights of UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in each other’s state when the UK leaves the EU. It allows for the payment of each country’s uprated state pensions to recipients living in the other.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 14/05/2019 14:34:21 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1123701

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	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: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department took in response to the increased number of complaints to the Independent Case Examiner from women affected by the state pension age increase between October 2016 and November 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	248717
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner is by its nature and name, independent. It reviews complaints about the DWP and its contracted service providers, in those cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied with the final response to their complaint.</p><p> </p><p>The service provided by the Independent Case Examiner’s Office is demand led, and its resources are reviewed on an annual basis. The Independent Case Examiner’s Office received funding for thirteen additional staff in 2018/2019 financial year, during which productivity increased with the Independent Case Examiner’s Office clearing 1,246 complaints, compared to 955 in the previous reporting year.</p><p> </p><p>The Independent Case Examiner’s Office accepted the first complaint concerning communications associated with changes to women’s State Pension age in October 2016. Due to the volume of complaint referrals received from this group of complainants, the Independent Case Examiner Office took the decision to bring a lead case into investigation in January 2017, in order to familiarise itself with the issues underpinning the orchestrated complaints campaign. This investigation concluded in June 2017 – The Independent Case Examiner did not uphold the complaint.</p><p> </p><p>To deal specifically with this group of complaints, the Independent Case Examiner’s Office set up a team of three Investigation Case Managers in October 2017. This team concluded 192 investigations between October 2017 and November 2018, none of which were upheld on the main element of complaint. The Independent Case Examiner’s Office closed this group of complaints in December 2018, when they became subject to legal proceedings, as is required under its governance contract.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/05/2019 15:18:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1123711

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2019 to Question 243355 on Pension Credit, how many times was the online pension credit toolkit accessed in each year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	248594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>The Pension Credit toolkit is an on-line tool aimed at agencies and welfare rights organisations to help them encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The Information available on the number of times the Pension Credit toolkit was accessed is in the table below. This includes data on the number of viewings of the Pension Credit overview page on <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a> which is considered the most likely initial starting point for the public obtaining on line information about Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Page views</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Page</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019 to 25 April</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit toolkit: landing page</p></td><td><p>1,466</p></td><td><p>2,078</p></td><td><p>3,399</p></td><td><p>4,133</p></td><td><p>4,527</p></td><td><p>12,909</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit toolkit: advice and guidance for stakeholders</p></td><td><p>5,791</p></td><td><p>9,884</p></td><td><p>18,336</p></td><td><p>21,363</p></td><td><p>27,644</p></td><td><p>10,755</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit guidance for customers overview page</p></td><td><p>406,024</p></td><td><p>1,134,852</p></td><td><p>1,307,562</p></td><td><p>1,412,375</p></td><td><p>1,318,770</p></td><td><p>1,306,531</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>1. Data is for calendar years</p><p>2. Data refers to the following webpages</p><p> </p><ul><li>toolkit landing page<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></li><li>advice and guidance for stakeholders<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders</a></li><li>first page of the main Pension Credit guide for claimants <br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit</a></li></ul><p>3. Data shows the number of times these webpages were accessed.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/05/2019 15:10:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1123712

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2019 to Question 243355 on Pension Credit, for what reason information on Departmental budgets for promoting pension credit take-up rates are unavailable; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	248595
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The DWP uses a wide variety of different channels and partners to communicate information about Pension Credit and other welfare entitlements to potential and existing customers. Specific information on how much is spent on increasing take-up rates for Pension Credit is not available. I also refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2019 to Question UIN 246944.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/05/2019 15:36:37 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1123047

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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	National Insurance Contributions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each constituency have incomplete national insurance records for their pension because they have omitted to pay the contributions in past contributory years.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	247595
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>Although the Government holds data on National Insurance records, it is based on a 1 per cent sample of the National Insurance and PAYE System (NPS) which is not sufficient to provide data at a constituency level. So the specific information requested is not available.</p><p> </p><p>It is worth noting that over the course of someone’s working life it is possible to have some gaps in their National Insurance record and still get the full amount of State Pension. For example, in the case of the new State Pension, if we assume around a 50 year working life, this allows for roughly 15 years of gaps.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/04/2019 15:13:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1123144

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish a response to EDM 2296 on providing financial restitution to born in the 1950s women.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	247728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The approach of Labour, Conservative and the Coalition governments for the last 24 years since the 1995 pensions Act is the same. This Government’s position on the changes to State Pension age (SPa) remains clear and consistent.</p><p> </p><p>The legislative changes to women’s SPa address the longstanding inequalities that had previously existed between men and women’s SPa. If State Pension age had not been equalised, women would be spending over 40 per cent of their adult life in retirement and this proportion would be continuing to increase. Even after equalising women's State Pension age with men's, women will spend on average around two years more in receipt of their State Pension because of their longer life expectancy.</p><p> </p><p>The overall trend in the percentage of pensioners living in poverty is a dramatic fall over several decades. We are forecast to spend over £120 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £99 billion on the State Pension (2019/2020). In 2019/20 we are spending £3.1 billion to increase benefit and pension rates for pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>The welfare system continues to provide a safety-net for those experiencing hardship, including that caused by unemployment, disability, and coping with caring responsibilities which affect those unable to work and therefore most in need in the run up to their State Pension age. Women who have had their State Pension age increased have the same eligibility to working age in-work, out-of-work and disability benefits as a man with the same date of birth.</p><p> </p><p>This matter has been comprehensively debated on many occasions in Parliament, and any amendment to the current legislation which creates a new inequality between men and women would be highly dubious as a matter of law. The Government does not respond to individual EDMs.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/04/2019 12:18:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1123261

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	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 times the online pensioner toolkit was accessed in each of the last six years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	247596
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The Pension Credit toolkit is an on-line tool aimed at agencies and welfare rights organisations to help them encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Information available on the number of times the Pension Credit toolkit was accessed is in the table below. For comparative purposes it includes data on the number of viewings of the Pension Credit overview page on GOV.UK, which is considered the most likely initial starting point for the public obtaining on line information about Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="6"><p><strong>Page views</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Page</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019 to 25 April</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit toolkit: landing page</p></td><td><p>1,466</p></td><td><p>2,078</p></td><td><p>3,399</p></td><td><p>4,133</p></td><td><p>4,527</p></td><td><p>12,909</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit toolkit: advice and guidance for stakeholders</p></td><td><p>5,791</p></td><td><p>9,884</p></td><td><p>18,336</p></td><td><p>21,363</p></td><td><p>27,644</p></td><td><p>10,755</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit guidance for customers overview page</p></td><td><p>406,024</p></td><td><p>1,134,852</p></td><td><p>1,307,562</p></td><td><p>1,412,375</p></td><td><p>1,318,770</p></td><td><p>1,306,531</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>1. Data is for calendar years</p><p>2. Data refers to the following webpages</p><p> </p><ul><li>toolkit landing page<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></li><li>advice and guidance for stakeholders<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit/pension-credit-toolkit-advice-and-guidance-for-stakeholders</a></li><li>first page of the main Pension Credit guide for claimants <br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit</a></li></ul><p>3. Data shows the number of times these webpages were accessed.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/04/2019 12:34:32 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1122756

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2019 to Question 243355, what assessment he has made of the merits of a formal policy monitoring spending aimed at increasing take-up rates of pension credit.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	246944
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>Since 2010, the DWP have increased the annual level of the basic State Pension by £1,450. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners and by 2023/24 this rises to £143.5 billion. The DWP's policy and essential information to a broad range of customers and other key audiences and provides services to around 22 million people either directly or using a multitude of partners from the third sector. Given that the DWP uses a variety of different channels to communicate information about Pension Credit to potential customers, there are no plans to change the existing arrangements beyond monitoring actual Pension Credit expenditure and the amount of Pension Credit that goes unclaimed. However, the DWP does monitor the take-up of income related benefits, including Pension Credit.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 16:22:31 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1122830

	registered interest
	date	24/04/2019
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with officials in Northern Ireland on ensuring that older people in difficult financial circumstances are able to access the benefits to which they are entitled.
	tabling member constituency	Belfast North
	tabling member printed	Nigel Dodds
	uin	246950
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>There are regular discussions between officials in the Department for Work and Pensions and their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Department for Communities.</p><p> </p><p>The responsibility for ensuring that older people in Northern Ireland access the benefits to which they are entitled is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department for Communities, so DWP officials have not had specific discussions on this particular subject.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/05/2019 16:18:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

1122395

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people on low incomes are able access benefits they are entitled to.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	246475
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 09:17:31 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1122429

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	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, (a) when and (b) with which countries her Department last signed reciprocal agreements on the uprating of pensions of UK residents overseas.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	246456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK last signed a reciprocal social security agreement with Ireland on 1 February 2019 to preserve the rights established through the Common Travel Area arrangements and currently facilitated by EU law. The agreement includes the uprating of pensions for UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in each other’s state once the UK leaves the EU.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 10:34:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1122433

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2019
	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, when her Department last held discussions with officials in the Government of (a) Australia, (b) Canada and (c) New Zealand on the establishment of reciprocal agreements in relation to the uprating of pensions of UK residents in those countries; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	246457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to hold discussions on uprating pensions with officials from the governments of Australia, Canada or New Zealand and no recent discussions have occurred.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 01/05/2019 10:42:45 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1121931

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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, if she will take steps to simplify the process of claiming pension credit.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	245757
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234, which removes the need for claimants to complete lengthy application forms. However, paper forms are also available for those who prefer. The DWP is required by law to ask a number of questions in order to establish eligibility and ensure accurate assessment and subsequent award.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim. There are no plans to change the existing process of claims to Pension Credit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 13:54:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121964

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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	Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the next White Paper on pensions; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	245886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>On the 19 March 2018, the Department published a White Paper on ‘Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes’ which can be viewed here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department has no plans to publish a further Pensions White Paper.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 14:46:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1122176

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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, whether the Government plans to maintain annual increases to pensions of UK citizens residing in the Republic of Ireland in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	245661
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK and Ireland have signed a reciprocal agreement which will protect the social security rights of UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in each other’s state when the UK leaves the EU. The agreement, at the link below, allows for the payment of uprated state pensions to recipients living in Ireland.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/622/pdfs/uksi_20190622_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/622/pdfs/uksi_20190622_en.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 30/04/2019 12:42:55 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1122177

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2019
	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: Reciprocal Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place a copy of the reciprocal agreement covering pensions with the Philippines in the House of Commons Library.
	tabling member constituency	Knowsley
	tabling member printed	Mr George Howarth
	uin	245662
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>Current versions of the United Kingdom’s reciprocal social security agreements are already publicly available on the Legislation.gov.uk website. The 1989 convention on social security between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines is available at: <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/2002/contents" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/2002/contents</a>. However, a copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library as requested.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 15:25:02 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	481 label Biography information for Sir George Howarth

1121345

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that older people claim the benefits they are entitled to.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	244156
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 244000 question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121357

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that older people in financial hardship are able to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	244000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 244156 question first answered 23/04/2019 16:29:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121428

	registered interest
	date	11/04/2019
	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	Pensioners: Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure older people in difficult financial circumstances can access to the benefits they are entitled to.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	244186
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 24/04/2019 13:12:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1111212

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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, how much her Department has spent on increasing take-up rates for pension credit in each year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	243355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about Pension Credit to potential customers. This includes information on <a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>, in leaflets and by telephone as well as through DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres and staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit. The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the Pension Credit toolkit is an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The Pension Credit toolkit can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The specific information requested on how much the DWP has spent on increasing take-up rates for Pension Credit in each year is not available.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/04/2019 15:18:32 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1111213

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2019
	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 she has made of the (a) amount of unclaimed pension credit and (b) average amount of unclaimed pension credit per eligible person in each year for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	243356
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The table below shows estimates for the (a) amount of unclaimed Pension credit and (b) average amount of unclaimed pension credit per household in each year for which data is available.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total amount of unclaimed pension credit</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average (mean) weekly amount of unclaimed pension credit </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average (median) weekly amount of unclaimed pension credit </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p>£3.1bn</p></td><td><p>£41</p></td><td><p>£22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p>£2.9bn</p></td><td><p>£41</p></td><td><p>£23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p>£2.8bn</p></td><td><p>£42</p></td><td><p>£24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p>£2.7bn</p></td><td><p>£42</p></td><td><p>£25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p>£3.1bn</p></td><td><p>£49</p></td><td><p>£24</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Source: Income related benefits: estimates of take-up 2016 to 2017</p><p> </p><p>Please note that figures in the publication reflect average amounts of unclaimed Pension Credit per household instead of per person. This is because data from the Family Resources Survey, a survey assessing households, is used to produce the figures in the publication.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/04/2019 15:34:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1110718

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women receiving a state pension under the old pension rate.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	242842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is published and available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at: <a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As at August 2018, the most recent date for which data are available, there were 5,000,000 men and 6,800,000 women receiving State Pension calculated under the pre-2016 rules.</p><p> </p><p><em>(Source: DWP Administrative data. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000)</em></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 16/04/2019 14:22:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1110719

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women receiving pension payments that are below the state pension minimum.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	242843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2019 answer text <p>There is no single lowest or minimum payment of the State Pension. This is because the amount received varies depending on individual circumstances, including when State Pension age is reached, the National Insurance record and the qualifying rules under which the State Pension is calculated. This means it is not possible to provide an estimate of the numbers of people receiving the lowest amount or amounts below a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>The old State Pension (for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016) could be made up of the basic State Pension, additional State Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit. Each of these elements had their own rules.</p><p> </p><p>For those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010, an individual needed to have a minimum of one qualifying year of paid or treated as having been paid National Insurance contributions, and at least 25 per cent of the qualifying years required for a full basic State Pension in order to get any basic State Pension. Women normally needed 39 qualifying years and men 44 qualifying years to get a full basic State Pension (currently £129.20 per week). Proportionate rates were paid depending on the number of qualifying years once the minimum qualifying conditions were met.</p><p> </p><p>For those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, but before 6th April 2016, one qualifying year of paid or credited National Insurance contributions gave entitlement to some basic State Pension and 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions were required for a full basic State Pension. Proportionate rates were paid depending on the number of qualifying years between one and 30.</p><p> </p><p>The amount of Additional State Pension was based on a person’s earnings, National Insurance position and whether they had been contracted out of the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme or, from 2002, State Second Pension. Graduated Retirement Benefit was based on the number of units that had been obtained between 1961 and 1975.</p><p> </p><p>The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards) is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. The minimum qualifying period is usually 10 years of contributions to get any new State Pension so a person with 10 qualifying years will receive 10/35ths of the full rate which is around £48 a week (2019/20 rates).</p><p> </p><p>People with no pre-existing National Insurance record prior to 6 April 2016 will require 35 years of contributions to receive the full new State Pension amount (currently £168.60 a week). Proportionate rates are paid depending on the number of qualifying years once the minimum qualifying conditions are met.</p><p> </p><p>For people with an existing National Insurance record at 6 April 2016, transitional arrangements take their previous contributions into account. This is done by calculating a starting amount for the new State Pension which is based on their previous National Insurance record. If the starting amount is less than the full rate of the new State Pension, they may be able to add qualifying years from 6 April 2016, until they reach the full amount or their State Pension age, whichever comes first. This means that they will receive at least as much from the new State Pension as they would have done from the old system, based on their National Insurance record to 6 April 2016.</p><p><br>Pensioners on a low income may be entitled to Pension Credit. Pension Credit is an income-related benefit for the poorest pensioners who have been unable to provide for their retirement. The amount of Pension Credit a person gets depends on how much money they have coming in each week and how much they have saved or invested.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 242844 question first answered 17/04/2019 11:25:16 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1110720

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women receiving the lowest possible amount of state pension payment.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	242844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/04/2019 answer text <p>There is no single lowest or minimum payment of the State Pension. This is because the amount received varies depending on individual circumstances, including when State Pension age is reached, the National Insurance record and the qualifying rules under which the State Pension is calculated. This means it is not possible to provide an estimate of the numbers of people receiving the lowest amount or amounts below a minimum.</p><p> </p><p>The old State Pension (for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016) could be made up of the basic State Pension, additional State Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit. Each of these elements had their own rules.</p><p> </p><p>For those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010, an individual needed to have a minimum of one qualifying year of paid or treated as having been paid National Insurance contributions, and at least 25 per cent of the qualifying years required for a full basic State Pension in order to get any basic State Pension. Women normally needed 39 qualifying years and men 44 qualifying years to get a full basic State Pension (currently £129.20 per week). Proportionate rates were paid depending on the number of qualifying years once the minimum qualifying conditions were met.</p><p> </p><p>For those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, but before 6th April 2016, one qualifying year of paid or credited National Insurance contributions gave entitlement to some basic State Pension and 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions were required for a full basic State Pension. Proportionate rates were paid depending on the number of qualifying years between one and 30.</p><p> </p><p>The amount of Additional State Pension was based on a person’s earnings, National Insurance position and whether they had been contracted out of the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme or, from 2002, State Second Pension. Graduated Retirement Benefit was based on the number of units that had been obtained between 1961 and 1975.</p><p> </p><p>The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards) is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. The minimum qualifying period is usually 10 years of contributions to get any new State Pension so a person with 10 qualifying years will receive 10/35ths of the full rate which is around £48 a week (2019/20 rates).</p><p> </p><p>People with no pre-existing National Insurance record prior to 6 April 2016 will require 35 years of contributions to receive the full new State Pension amount (currently £168.60 a week). Proportionate rates are paid depending on the number of qualifying years once the minimum qualifying conditions are met.</p><p> </p><p>For people with an existing National Insurance record at 6 April 2016, transitional arrangements take their previous contributions into account. This is done by calculating a starting amount for the new State Pension which is based on their previous National Insurance record. If the starting amount is less than the full rate of the new State Pension, they may be able to add qualifying years from 6 April 2016, until they reach the full amount or their State Pension age, whichever comes first. This means that they will receive at least as much from the new State Pension as they would have done from the old system, based on their National Insurance record to 6 April 2016.</p><p><br>Pensioners on a low income may be entitled to Pension Credit. Pension Credit is an income-related benefit for the poorest pensioners who have been unable to provide for their retirement. The amount of Pension Credit a person gets depends on how much money they have coming in each week and how much they have saved or invested.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 242843 question first answered 17/04/2019 11:25:16 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1110735

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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: Reciprocal Arrangements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Government last held discussions with the Governments of (a) India and (b) Pakistan on reciprocal pensions agreements; and will she make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
	tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
	uin	242790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>Successive governments – Labour, Coalition and Conservative have not entered into any new reciprocal social security agreements with non-EU countries since 1992. Any requests for a new agreement would be considered carefully to ensure maximum benefit and reciprocity for both parties</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/04/2019 14:40:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

1110751

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of pensioners entitled to pension credit not in receipt of pension credit in each local authority area in Wales.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	242718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The information requested on the (a) number and (b) proportion of pensioners entitled to pension credit not in receipt of pension credit in each local authority area in Wales is not available.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/04/2019 14:33:05 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1110277

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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	Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people who have benefited from pensions auto-enrolment are (a) women and (b) men.
	tabling member constituency	Faversham and Mid Kent
	tabling member printed	Helen Whately
	uin	242219
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>10.4 million workers have been automatically enrolled into workplace pension by more than 1.4 million employers. By 2019/20 an estimated extra £18.6 billion a year is estimated to go into workplace pensions as a result of Automatic Enrolment. Automatic Enrolment has reversed the decline in workplace pension saving.</p><p> </p><p>Automatic Enrolment was designed specifically to help groups who historically were poorly served or excluded from workplace pension saving, such as women and lower earners. It is equalising workplace pension participation among eligible men and women. In 2017, 81 per cent of eligible men and 80 per cent of eligible women in the private sector were saving into a workplace pension. This compares with 43 per cent and 40 per cent respectively in the private sector in 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s 2017 review of Automatic Enrolment <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668972/print-ready-automatic-enrolment-review-2017-maintaining-the-momentum.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668972/print-ready-automatic-enrolment-review-2017-maintaining-the-momentum.pdf</a></p><p>set out our ambition for the mid-2020s, with proposals to strengthen financial resilience for traditionally excluded groups including women.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 16/04/2019 11:05:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4527 label Biography information for Helen Whately

1110301

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2019
	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, whether she plans to index the value of the UK state pension for British pensioners who live in Commonwealth countries.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	242248
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions paid to recipients living outside the UK has been in place for over 70 years. The UK State Pension is payable worldwide without regard to nationality. Entitlement to the UK State Pension is based on the national insurance contributions on a person’s national insurance record. The annual index-linked increases to UK State Pensions are paid to recipients overseas only where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in EEA countries or in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that provides for the up-rating of the UK State Pension. The Government has no plans to change the policy of all Governments, Labour, Coalition or Conservative since WW2.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 16/04/2019 11:27:49 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1109767

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	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	Pensions: Consumer Information
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of delivering the online pensions dashboard; and what the timescale is for that delivery.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	240970
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Pensions dashboards are a digital democratiser – they will open up pensions to millions - providing an easy-to-access online view of a saver's pensions.</p><p> </p><p>Government’s work on dashboards builds upon the Pensions Dashboard Prototype Project, managed by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) with the involvement of 17 pensions firms. We believe that, in the long term, as they develop to become more sophisticated, pensions dashboards could, as a minimum and as set out in our consultation response, help to achieve the following objectives:</p><p> </p><p>- increase individual awareness,</p><p>- build individual control,</p><p>- increase engagement,</p><p>- support the guidance process,</p><p>- reconnect individuals with lost pension pots</p><p>- and enable more informed user choices.</p><p> </p><p>A key priority for 2019 is for the Money and Pensions Service to establish the industry delivery group, and we also expect to see industry creating and testing dashboards this year. Government is committed to compelling pension schemes to make consumers’ data available to them through their chosen dashboard. Schemes need to start getting ready now, particularly in terms of preparing data. Pension schemes should be ready to provide consumer’s information to them via dashboards within a three to four years window.</p><p> </p><p>A copy of the consultation with details on next steps, legislation and timelines can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pensions-dashboards-feasibility-report-and-consultation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pensions-dashboards-feasibility-report-and-consultation</a></p><p> </p><p>There is a role for government in facilitating industry's delivery of dashboards which work for consumers and put people in control of their data. That’s why, at the Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor allocated £3.35 million worth of funding for 2019/20 to support this endeavour.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the government’s response to the consultation on pensions dashboards stated that the Money and Pensions Service will draw on the Financial Services Levy and the General Levy on pension schemes to fund the non-commercial dashboard and the dashboard architecture. This levy is paid for by pension schemes. Additionally, there have been associated usual staff running costs for the department relating to the development of the policy.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/04/2019 16:09:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109379

	registered interest
	date	03/04/2019
	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: Payment Methods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on paying state pensions into a bank account held at a local post office.
	tabling member constituency	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
	tabling member printed	Ian Blackford
	uin	240570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>Since January 2017, 99% of banks personal customers are able to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries free of charge at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to helping more people move towards, and benefit from, mainstream banking. The DWPs standard Method of Payment is to pay electronically into a bank account, building society account, credit union account, internet based account or a basic bank account of the customer’s choice. This provides a safe, modern and reliable method of payment, which gives customers greater choice about where and when they collect their money.</p><p> </p><p>For people who do not have access to a mainstream account, the Department currently offers two exception payment methods and this includes Post Office card account which enables payment of benefit and pension into an account which is held at a local post office.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/04/2019 13:05:22 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4390 label Biography information for Ian Blackford

1109190

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2019
	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, with reference to her Department's document Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries, recipients of the UK State Pension living overseas, if she will hold discussions with her counterparts in (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand and (d) other countries about the potential benefits of a reciprocal agreement including the uprating of the pensions of their UK residents; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	239930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department’s document ‘Estimated costs of uprating State Pension in frozen rate countries’ <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-costs-of-uprating-state-pension-in-frozen-rate-countries" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-costs-of-uprating-state-pension-in-frozen-rate-countries</a> shows that the estimated extra cost of up-rating the UK State Pension in countries where State Pension increases are not paid would be around £3 billion extra over five years, if all State Pensions in payment were increased to the amount that would have been payable if the recipients had never left the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions paid to recipients living outside the UK is clear and is a long-standing one of successive Governments since WW2. The annual index-linked increases are paid to UK State Pension recipients where there is a legal requirement to do so. For example, where UK State Pension recipients are living within the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Gibraltar or in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that provides for the uprating of the UK State Pension. The Government has no plans to change this policy.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 10/04/2019 11:53:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1107823

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2019
	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: Single People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of single old age pensioners who currently rely solely on basic state pension for income.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	238643
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The basic State Pension applies to people who reached State Pension age before the 6<sup>th</sup> April 2016. We estimate that 2% of single pensioners in the UK had income from only the basic State Pension in 2017/18.</p><p> </p><p>Pensioners who receive any income of any amount from sources other than the basic State Pension have not been counted in the 2%, except for some seasonal payments these individuals may additionally receive (including Winter Fuel Payment and Christmas Bonus).</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 08/04/2019 16:22:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1105618

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2019
	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	Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people working on the Automatic Enrolment Programme are (a) contingent labour, (b) supplier resource and (c) civil servants.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	237607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2019 answer text <p>Automatic Enrolment has transformed workplace pension’s savings. To date, in excess of 10million eligible workers have been automatically enrolled, by over 1.4million employers. A link to the 2017 Automatic Enrolment Review can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668971/automatic-enrolment-review-2017-maintaining-the-momentum.PDF" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668971/automatic-enrolment-review-2017-maintaining-the-momentum.PDF</a></p><p> </p><p>The current resourcing is 26 full time equivalent civil servants and this headcount consists of programme management, policy, analytical and stakeholder partnering expertise.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 03/04/2019 16:32:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1105123

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has made on the consultation into legislating for collective defined contribution pension schemes in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
	tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
	uin	237106
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s consultation on Collective Defined Contribution schemes closed in January 2019. A formal Government response to the consultation, including a summary of respondents’ views, was published on Monday 18th March and a Written Ministerial Statement was laid before the House (HCWS1422). The consultation response can be found here:</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/delivering-collective-defined-contribution-pension-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/delivering-collective-defined-contribution-pension-schemes</a></p><p> </p><p>I am grateful for the comments and support received in response to the consultation, and the Department now intends to move forward with legislating to facilitate single and associated employer Collective Defined Contribution scheme provision as soon as Parliamentary time allows and detailed drafting of the proposed measures has been considered and then actioned.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/04/2019 16:27:27 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1105288

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Pensions: Advisory Services
	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 level of coordination between the Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to defined benefit pension transfer advice.
	tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
	tabling member printed	Nick Smith
	uin	237080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The DWP are urging the two organisations to work much more closely together. The Pension’s Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority carry out their functions independently. The Pension’s Regulator launched a joint protocol with Financial Conduct Authority in January 2019. The Protocol is intended to improve coordination between the Financial Conduct Authority, The Pension’s Regulator and the Pensions Advisory Service to help pension scheme trustees to ensure their members are adequately and fully informed when considering transferring their defined benefit pensions.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/04/2019 16:28:51 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith

1104834

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2019
	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	Pensioners: Means-tested Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the take-up rate has been of each income-based pensioner benefit in each of the last five years for which data are available.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	236312
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2019 answer text <p>The latest Official statistics on the take-up of income related benefits relate to 2016/17 and can be found in the ‘Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up in 2016 to 2017’ publication at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2016-to-2017</a></p><p /><p> </p><p>Official statistics relating to earlier years can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up--2</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 28/03/2019 09:53:29 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1092604

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2019
	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 impact assessment her Department has undertaken on the recent reform of pension credit; and if she will publish that impact assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	235295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>The change to the Pension Credit rules was legislated for in the Welfare Reform Act 2012. As part of the Parliamentary process, an Equality Impact Assessment published on the 9 November 2011, which included an assessment of the impacts of Universal Credit reforms on older couples, including mixed aged couples. This can be found at:</p><p /><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment</a></p><p> </p><p>On 28 February 2019 we published an ad-hoc statistical release which provides analysis relating to mixed age couples estimated to be affected by the change in policy to be implemented on 15 May 2019. This can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit</a></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 26/03/2019 16:46:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds