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1717562

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in poverty.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
uin	25917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>Statistics on the number of pensioners living in absolute and relative poverty in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication in “table 1_6b” of “summary-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2022-23-tables” at <a title="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab</a>).</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 21/05/2024 14:17:40 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1713834

registered interest
date	25/04/2024
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: Poverty
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 make an assessment of the potential impact of differential uprating levels for (a) the additional state pension under the old pension system and (b) other elements of the state pension on levels of pensioner poverty.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	23802
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>There are no plans to make a formal assessment.</p><p> </p><p>In 2022/23, there were 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10. Our sustained commitment to the triple lock demonstrates our determination to continue to combat pensioner poverty in future. As a result, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is now £3,700 higher, in cash terms, than in 2010.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 30/04/2024 13:32:55 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1702345

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
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: Poverty
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Fabian Society report When I'm 64: A strategy to tackle poverty before state pension age, published on 17 April, which found that the number of people aged between 60 and the state pension age living in poverty increased by 140 per cent between 2010 and 2022, how many people currently aged over 60 and not yet eligible for the state pension are living in poverty.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The latest statistics show that in 2022/23, 20% (0.9m) of individuals aged over 60 and not yet eligible for the state pension were living in absolute poverty after housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics on the number of individuals living in absolute and relative poverty in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2023" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a><strong>. </strong>The latest available data with age breakdowns can be found on Stat-Xplore: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>. The latest statistics published on 21 March 2024 are for the financial period 2022/23.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 01/05/2024 13:15:12 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1680553

registered interest
date	08/01/2024
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of Carers Allowance and State Pension being overlapping benefits on levels of pensioner poverty.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	8576
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made. Although there is no upper age limit to claiming Carer’s Allowance, it cannot normally be paid with the State Pension. It has been a long-held feature of the UK’s benefit system, under successive Governments, that where someone is entitled to two benefits for the same contingency, then whilst there may be entitlement to both benefits, only one will be paid to avoid duplication for the same need.</p><p>Although entitlement to State Pension and Carer’s Allowance arise in different circumstances, they are nevertheless designed for the same contingency – as an income replacement. Carer’s Allowance replaces some income where the carer is not able to work full time due to their caring responsibilities, while State Pension replaces income in retirement. For this reason, social security rules normally operate to prevent them being paid together. However, if a carer’s State Pension is less than Carer's Allowance, State Pension is paid and topped up with Carer's Allowance to the basic weekly rate of Carer's Allowance, which is currently £76.75.</p><p>Where underlying entitlement of Carer’s Allowance occurs (all entitlement conditions are met, but the overlapping benefit rule prevents payment), additional financial support may be available through Pension Credit, notably including the additional amount payable to carers. This additional amount is currently £42.75 a week – over £2,200 a year - and around 100,000 carers receive it as part of their Pension Credit award. It is paid to recognise the additional contribution and responsibilities associated with caring and means that lower income pensioners with caring responsibilities can receive more than other lower income recipients of Pension Credit. If a pensioner’s income is above the limit for Pension Credit, they may still be able to receive Housing Benefit.</p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. The State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. In April 2023 the State Pension was increased by 10.1% and, subject to parliamentary approval, will be increased by a further 8.5% increase from April 2024. In 2021/22, there were 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10. As far as pensioner carers are concerned, additional financial support is already available, focussed on those in most need.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 15/01/2024 16:41:19 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1672457

registered interest
date	22/11/2023
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help tackle pensioner poverty.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	3289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>In 2021/22, there were 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10. The Government remains committed to ensuring that older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of financial support for today’s older people and for retirement saving by younger people.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2024, subject to parliamentary approval, the basic and new State Pensions and Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will be up-rated by 8.5%, in line with earnings growth, benefiting over 12.2 million pensioners. This delivers on the Government’s ‘triple lock’ commitment to increase these rates in line with the highest of growth in prices, growth in earnings or 2.5%. Other State Pension and benefit rates, including the Additional State Pension, will be increased by 6.7%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index for the year to September 2023.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently around 1.4 million pensioners claiming some £5bn of Pension Credit, which tops up their retirement income. This provides invaluable financial support for the poorest pensioners and is a passport to a range of other benefits. We are taking action to raise awareness of Pension Credit, encouraging pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living which is why it is providing total support of over £94bn in 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with their rising bills.</p><p> </p><p>Over 8 million UK households on eligible means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit, will receive Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900 in 2023/24.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, over 8 million households will receive a £300 pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top up to their winter fuel payment this year, increasing payments to £500 or £600 where the household includes someone aged 80 or over. Pensioners in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will have received the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to these current measures, to reduce the risk of poverty for future pensioners, automatic enrolment into workplace pensions has transformed pension participation for millions of workers. To date, over 10.8 million people have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension, with over 2.1 million employers complying with their duties. Furthermore, our 50 PLUS agenda aims to maximise the labour market opportunities for people to earn and save for longer.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 27/11/2023 16:39:15 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1666955

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Pensioners: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on tackling pensioner poverty among women.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Patricia Gibson
uin	906700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>In 2021/22 there were 200 thousand fewer female pensioners in absolute poverty than in 2009/10, after housing costs.</p><p>In 2023/24, we will spend over £151.6 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain, which is 5.9% of GDP.</p><p>This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £124.3 billion in 2023/24.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/10/2023 15:44:06 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4435 label Biography information for Patricia Gibson

1623470

registered interest
date	24/04/2023
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners living in poverty in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) London.
tabling member constituency	Enfield North
tabling member printed	Feryal Clark
uin	182463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2023 answer text <p>National and regional statistics on the number and percentage of pensioners in low income are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication, and can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2022" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 26/04/2023 09:33:34 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4822 label Biography information for Feryal Clark

1612846

registered interest
date	20/04/2023
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners living in poverty in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	181990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2023 answer text <p>National and regional statistics on the number of pensioners in low income are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication, and can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-for-financial-years-ending-1995-to-2022" target="_blank">Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 26/04/2023 09:06:19 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1506827

registered interest
date	20/09/2022
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners who will be living in poverty during the winter of 2022-23.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	51865
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2022 answer text <p>It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the number of pensioners who will be living in poverty during the winter 2022/23. Projecting poverty involves projecting forward the impact of the cost of living on every household’s income which is not possible to do with confidence.</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 thousand 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>On top of this, 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 based on current energy prices 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 one-off payment to pensioners households 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> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 23/09/2022 14:08:33 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1505467

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners living in poverty in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England; what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the rising cost of living on the levels of pensioner poverty in those areas; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the welfare system in helping to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty in those areas.
tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
uin	48379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <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> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 21/09/2022 16:49:48 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher