|
answer text |
<p>It is important to highlight that in 2017/18 there were around 1.7 million Pension
Credit claimants, receiving around £5.1 billion of Pension Credit payments.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government wants to make sure that all pensioners eligible can claim the
Pension Credit to which they are entitled. That is why on the 10 February we launched
a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit. The aim of the campaign
is to encourage those over State Pension age to check whether they’re eligible. We
want to make it clear that having savings, a pension or owning a home are not automatic
barriers to receiving Pension Credit; as well as explaining that even a small award
of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with
rent, council tax reduction schemes and heating costs.</p><p> </p><p>The campaign
includes a short, animated video that is being shown in GP waiting rooms and in Post
Offices. It is also being shown to Facebook users over State Pension age and supported
by other messaging on social media. We have also made the video and campaign materials
available for stakeholders to use, as we know they are often one of the first places
people turn to for information about Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p>An important part
of our overall strategy to promote take-up is engaging with people who may be eligible
to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or Attendance
Allowance or report a change in their circumstances which may mean that they could
be eligible for Pension Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Working with our stakeholders is an
important part of our ongoing strategy to improve take-up of Pension Credit because
we know that often the best ways to reach eligible pensioners is through trusted organisations
working in the community. We have therefore updated the Pension Credit toolkit to
include the new campaign materials, supplementing the resources it already contains
to assist agencies and welfare rights organisations to encourage Pension Credit take-up
and support pensioners applying for Pension Credit. 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>
</p><p>The most recent information available on the number of times the Pension Credit
toolkit was accessed this year 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><p><strong>WEBPAGE VIEWINGS
(2020)</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Page</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1-7
Jan</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>8-14 Jan</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>15-21
Jan</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>22-28 Jan</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>29 Jan
– 4 Feb</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>5-11 Feb</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>12-18
Feb</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>19-25 Feb</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>26 Feb
– 3 Mar</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit toolkit: landing page</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>16</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>73</p></td><td><p>323</p></td><td><p>268</p></td><td><p>268</p></td><td><p>101</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension
Credit toolkit: advice and guidance for stakeholders</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>59</p></td><td><p>72</p></td><td><p>66</p></td><td><p>87</p></td><td><p>350</p></td><td><p>240</p></td><td><p>205</p></td><td><p>142</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension
Credit guidance for customers overview page</p></td><td><p>10,166</p></td><td><p>11,045</p></td><td><p>12,120</p></td><td><p>13,599</p></td><td><p>14,577</p></td><td><p>28,790</p></td><td><p>17,907</p></td><td><p>15,952</p></td><td><p>16,110</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>1. Data refers to the following webpages:</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>2. Data shows the
number of times these webpages were accessed.</p>
|
|