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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

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

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