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<p>National Statistics on the number of pensioners in low income in West Midlands
and England are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication.
Statistics, covering up until 2019/20, can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2020"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2020</a>.
Data for Coventry and the Coventry North East constituency is unavailable due to insufficient
sample size.</p><p> </p><p>Given the impact of the pandemic on the size and quality
of sample data additional breakdowns for regions in 2020/21 were not reliable enough
to be published as part of the annual statistics.</p><p> </p><p>No such assessments
have been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to
alleviate levels of pensioner poverty.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020/21 there were 400,000
fewer pensioners in absolute poverty in the UK (both before and after housing costs)
than in 2009/10.</p><p> </p><p>We are forecast to spend over £134 billion on benefits
for pensioners in 2022/23. This amounts to 5.4% of GDP. This includes spending on
the State Pension which is forecast to be over £110bn in 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>The
government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and
has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The new
“Energy Price Guarantee” will mean a typical UK household will now pay up to an average
£2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years from 1 October, saving the
average household in Great Britain at least £1,000 from October. This is in addition
to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes
the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy
Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>This includes a £650 cost of living payment (paid
in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324) which has been designed to target support at more
than 8 million low-income households on means-tested benefits. The payment of £326
was paid between the 14 July and the 31 July for most people and the payment of £324
will be made in the Autumn. In addition, 6 million eligible disabled people will receive
a one-off disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20 September and pensioner
households will receive a one-off payment of £300 through and as an addition to the
Winter Fuel Payment from November.</p><p> </p><p>The government is providing an additional
£500 million to help households with the cost of household essentials, on top of what
we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding for this support
to £1.5 billion. In England this will take the form of an extension to the Household
Support Fund backed by £421m. Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through
the Barnett formula.</p><p> </p><p>The current Household Support Fund runs from 1
April to 30 September, with Coventry City Council allocated £3,224,222.30 for this
period. During this period, a total of £49,520,715.25 has been allocated to West Midlands
Local Authorities, which takes their total funding under both Household Support Funds
to £99,041,430.50. Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own funds,
within the parameters of the guidance and the grant determination.</p><p> </p><p>
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