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<p>The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension
age the same for men and women. Had the State Pension age not been equalised, women
who would be retiring today upon reaching the age of 60, would be expected to spend
(on average) over 40% of their adult lives in receipt of State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government is providing over £20m for a new enhanced offer through our 50+ Choices
programme to support people aged 50 and over to remain in and return to work.</p><p>
</p><p>We are also committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need
it, including when they near or reach retirement through the welfare benefits system</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, the Government understands the pressures people are facing with
the cost of living and is taking action to help. To ensure stability and certainty
for households, in the Autumn Statement the Government has announced £26bn in cost
of living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of Living Payments for the most
vulnerable households, an additional £1 billion, including Barnett impact, to enable
the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year.
In England this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund
backed by £842 million and the amended Energy Price Guarantee which will save the
average UK household £500 in 2023-24.</p><p> </p><p>The Government's Energy Price
Guarantee will save a typical British household around £900 this winter, based on
what energy prices would have been under the current price cap - reducing bills by
roughly a third. This is in addition to the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible
households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Pensioners
who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, have received an
extra payment of £300 per household paid with their normal payment. We estimate around
8.7 million pensioner households across the UK have received an increased Winter Fuel
Payment. Households with someone of State Pension age received £500 and households
with someone aged 80 or over received £600.</p><p> </p><p>This increased Winter Fuel
Payment has been paid on top of any other one-off support a pensioner household is
entitled to, for example where they are on Pension Credit or receive eligible disability
benefits. The Government committed at the Autumn Statement on 17 November 2022 to
a further pensioner cost of living payment of £300 per household to be paid in winter
2023/24.</p>
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