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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

1121360

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Personal Savings: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the elderly to accrue personal savings.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	244002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting people of all incomes and at all stages of life to save.</p><p> </p><p>Older people will continue to benefit from a number of measures this Government has introduced in recent years.</p><p> </p><p>The amount of money that people can save into their ISAs each year (the annual subscription allowance) has been increased to a record £20,000.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2016, individuals have also been able to benefit from a new Personal Savings Allowance of up to £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers and up to £500 for higher rate taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>As a result of these measures, over 95% of people with savings income pay no tax on that income.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 23/04/2019 13:07:19 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121358

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Rented Housing: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help local authorities improve security of tenure for older renters.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	244001
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>We know that security of tenure is a concern for many in the private rented sector. That is why we have announced that the government will end so-called ‘no fault’ evictions by abolishing Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. The government will shortly launch a new consultation on proposals to remove the ability of landlords to use ‘no fault’ evictions under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.</p><p>The government’s proposed measures will provide greater certainty for tenants and make the housing market fit for the 21st century. This will provide support to all tenants, including older renters, giving them the security and stability they need to make a place truly feel like home without the fear of being evicted at a moments’ notice.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Derbyshire answering member printed Mrs Heather Wheeler question first answered 23/04/2019 15:06:43 answering member 4053 label Biography information for Mrs Heather Wheeler
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121361

registered interest
date	11/04/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Utilities: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the prices of (a) energy bills, and (b) water bills are affordable for those of state pension age.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	244003
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2019 answer text <p>a) Energy policy is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>b) The Government’s November 2017 ‘Strategic policy statement to Ofwat’, the economic regulator for the water industry, challenged the water industry to do more for vulnerable customers in England, including older people. In Ofwat’s Price Review 2019 process in which water companies set out their business plans for 2020-25, Ofwat required companies to set out in their business plans how they would better identify and support those customers who need financial help. Work on the plans is ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>Current support includes the Government mandated WaterSure scheme which enables water companies to cap bills for eligible low income customers using a lot of water for essential family or health reasons. All water companies also offer schemes, known as social tariffs, for eligible customers on low incomes or receiving specific benefits. Approximately 400,000 household customers currently benefit from such water bill support schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Legislative powers recently put in place in the Digital Economy Act 2017 allow data sharing between water companies and other organisations, including Government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions. This will help companies identify and consequently provide support to more customers who may need help with their bills.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 23/04/2019 10:58:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms