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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

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

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