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1728530

	registered interest
	date	10/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	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 make an estimate of the potential impact of the steps her Department has taken to increase the number of people claiming Pension Credit on the cost to the public purse of expenditure on that benefit.
	tabling member constituency	West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
	tabling member printed	Andrew Bowie
	uin	5079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government announced on the 29 July 2024 that eligibility for Winter Fuel payments will be linked to those on Pension Credit or other means tested benefits for pensioners from Winter 2024. We have received around 38,500 Pension Credit claims in the 5 weeks since the announcement on 29th July (which is up to and including w/c 26th August). This is compared to around 17,900 Pension Credit claims in the 5 weeks preceding the announcement. This represents a 115% increase in Pension Credit claims received by the Department in the past 5 weeks compared to the 5 weeks before. These published statistics can be found here: Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 1 September 2024 - GOV.UK (<a href="http://www.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.gov.uk</a>). It is not currently possible to estimate the expenditure that will result from this.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 18/09/2024 15:33:12 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4601 label Biography information for Andrew Bowie

1728091

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	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 make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) simplifying and (b) automating the process to apply for Pension Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central and Headingley
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	4775
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2024 answer text <p>The Department continues to assess the Pension Credit service. This led to the introduction of the online claim process, providing customers with a convenient alternative claim route, alongside the existing telephony and paper application methods. As the Department continues to modernise the Pension Credit service, we continue to review the user experience, balancing simplification of application with capturing the right information to ensure accuracy of award.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 16/09/2024 15:37:04 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1728108

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2024
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding her Department has allocated to the Pension Credit Week of Action campaign, launched on 2 September 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Perth and Kinross-shire
	tabling member printed	Pete Wishart
	uin	4603
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government wants those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to, including their Winter Fuel Payment. We will continue to maximise opportunities to promote Pension Credit – such as the recent Week of Action - and to raise awareness of its wider benefits and to encourage pensioners to apply.</p><p> </p><p>In the five weeks following the Chancellor’s statement on 29 July we have seen a 115% increase in claims for Pension Credit, compared to the five weeks before. This is a welcome increase, but we must continue to raise awareness. We are now focusing on a paid media partnership and a national Pension Credit marketing campaign through to 21 December to maximise take-up.</p><p> </p><p>Campaign activity is funded from DWP's budget. We will confirm department's control totals for 2024-25, and expenditure limits for 2025-26 alongside the Budget on 30 October.</p> answering member constituency Bristol North West answering member printed Darren Jones question first answered 17/09/2024 15:13:06 answering member 4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones
	tabling member	1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart

1728109

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding was allocated to the Pension Credit week of action campaign, launched on 2 September 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Perth and Kinross-shire
	tabling member printed	Pete Wishart
	uin	4604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government’s Pension Credit awareness week of action, during which the DWP joined up with key stakeholder organisations such as Age UK, Citizens Advice, and local authorities to promote Pension Credit, was one part of the Department’s ongoing promotion of Pension Credit; it did not have its own separate funding allocation.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 17/09/2024 15:12:38 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	1440 label Biography information for Pete Wishart

1728280

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	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 press release entitled You could get Pension Credit – Week of Action to drive take up, published on 1 September 2024, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of that campaign on trends in the level of applications for Pension Credit.
	tabling member constituency	St Helens North
	tabling member printed	David Baines
	uin	4848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>The department has secured funding to support increased staffing and fund our communications strategy to support our programme of activity to drive up Pension Credit claims. The latest data available shows we have received around 38,500 Pension Credit claims in the 5 weeks since the announcement on 29th July (which is up to and including w/c 26th August).</p><p> </p><p>This represents a 115% increase in Pension Credit claims received by the Department in the past 5 weeks compared to the 5 weeks before.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 12/09/2024 13:58:38 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	5092

1727836

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential (a) impact of non-take up of Pension Credit by eligible people on their ability to meet fuel costs this winter and (b) merits of providing an automatic Pension Credit assessment for people who reach State Pension age with an opt-out option for people who (i) know they do not qualify and (ii) choose not to claim.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Siân Berry
	uin	4575
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government is determined to protect the poorest pensioners and target support to those in greatest need. Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.</p><p> </p><p>We want those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to, including the Winter Fuel Payment. That’s why we have launched a nationwide campaign, joining forces with key partners and stakeholders to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. Our campaign is also aimed at those who can influence, encourage and support their older family members and friends to apply.</p><p> </p><p>Although it is not possible to automatically assess everyone reaching State Pension age for Pension Credit, we will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households currently receiving Housing Benefit and who we have identified – based on the data we have – may be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 12/09/2024 12:37:29 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	5314

1727739

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	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 make an estimate of the time taken for all eligible pensioners to apply for Pension Credit.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	4375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>The responsibility to make a claim to Pension Credit is with individuals, and we can only encourage them to apply. We encourage all pensioners who may be eligible for Pension Credit to use the Pension Credit Calculator to check eligibility and to use our online Pension Credit claims process, via telephone or paper claims.</p><p>The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need. As part of Pension Credit Week of Action, we joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.</p><p>From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.</p><p>Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p>We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.</p><p>The latest available take-up estimates Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) cover the financial year 2021/2022 and suggest an overall Pension Credit take-up rate of 63%. The next take-up estimates covering the financial year 2022/2023 are due to be published in October.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds grouped question UIN 3731 question first answered 12/09/2024 10:57:42 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1727745

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	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 make an assessment of the potential merits of asking local authorities to contact every pensioner on Housing Benefit to encourage them to take up Pension Credit; and if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of whether local authorities have sufficient resources to undertake that task.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	4376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>The Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions wrote to all local authorities on 20<sup>th</sup> August. The letter acknowledged the vital role local authorities play in supporting their communities. The Government recognises that many local authorities already do a huge amount of work to promote benefit take-up. We are asking that local authorities support our national Pension Credit campaign and help us reach those eligible pensioners who have not claimed Pension Credit, so they continue to receive an annual Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p> </p><p>Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, the Department will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We will be inviting these households to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December backdating deadline, in order to ensure that if they are eligible they will also qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 12/09/2024 10:51:18 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1727747

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his deadline is for writing to Housing Benefit claimants on taking up Pension Credit; and what further steps he plans to take in respect of increasing uptake.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	4377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, we will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We will be inviting these households to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December backdating deadline, in order to ensure that if they are eligible they will also qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 12/09/2024 10:47:53 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1727756

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Pension Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people eligible for Pension Credit to claim it.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	4385
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2024 answer text <p>The Department has introduced the ability to make an online claim. This is in addition to telephone and paper claims. DWP Agents and third-party organisations are available to support customers with the application process. The Department is implementing a Pension Credit uptake campaign to encourage an estimate of up to 880,000 citizens who may be entitled to apply.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 12/09/2024 11:57:10 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell