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1019480

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2018
	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	Post Office Card Account
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of claimants of (a) disabled social security payments and (b) pensions who have payments made into a Post Office Account.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	198343
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to maintain Post Office card accounts until 2021, to ensure that customers can continue to access their benefits and pensions in this way.</p><p> </p><p>At October 2018 there were just under 1.2m active Post Office card accounts. In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way for all benefits to be paid.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about the number of disabled social security and pension recipients is not available.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 06/12/2018 15:02:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1042359

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2019
	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, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effect on mixed-age couples of the changes to eligibility for pensions credit.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	209375
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>This change means that the same work incentives apply to the younger partner as apply to other people of the same age, and that taxpayer support is directed where it is needed most. The difference between the levels of financial support in Universal Credit as compared to Pension Credit and pension-age Housing Benefit, will depend on individual circumstances. The differences reflect the role of Universal Credit in ensuring that work always pays, and of Pension Credit in providing long-term support to those who have permanently left the labour market because of retirement on top of the support also provided by the State Pension. It is for the same reason that the treatment of earned income in Universal Credit is more generous than in Pension Credit. The younger partner in a mixed-age couple receiving Universal Credit will have access to the tailored support provided by work coaches to help them find work or progress in work. No work-related requirements will be applied to the older partner.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 209365 question first answered 21/01/2019 17:04:14 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1050629

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	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	Universal Credit
	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 ensure that there is sufficient public awareness of the changes to universal credit entitlement for mixed-aged couples among people who are affected by that change.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	214138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>The Department announced on 14 January that the mixed age couple policy change will come into force on 15 May. Following the announcement we are implementing plans to raise awareness of the change among people who may be affected.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is writing to mixed-age couples who are already in receipt of Pension Credit or pensioner Housing Benefit. This is in addition to providing information on gov.uk and through existing departmental channels. The Department’s staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres will also be able to provide such information, as will staff in local authorities who administer Housing Benefit. The Department will also work with relevant organisations to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/02/2019 15:19:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 99546 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1050630

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the date of completion is of the most recent equality impact assessment carried out on the changes to universal credit entitlement for mixed-aged couples.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	214139
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2019 answer text <p>An Equality Impact Assessment for the introduction of Universal Credit was published on 9 November 2011. It contains an assessment of the effect of Universal Credit by age groups, including people aged over 50 and mixed age couples. In line with the DWP’s legal duties, equality impacts have been further considered in developing our plans for implementation.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/02/2019 15:04:25 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 99548 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1126912

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an equality impact assessment has been undertaken on the potential effect of changes to the eligibility rules for (a) pension credit and (b) housing benefit on women in mixed-age couples.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	254834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>Before the matter was debated in the passage of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 the government did the 2011 Universal Credit Equality Impact Assessment then there has been ongoing equality analysis of the mixed age couple change. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-equality-impact-assessment</a></p><p> </p><p>On 28 February 2019, the DWP published a research and analysis paper relating to mixed age couples estimated to be affected by the change in policy: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/mixed-age-couples-benefit-impacts-of-ending-access-to-pension-credit-and-pension-age-housing-benefit</a></p><p> </p><p>It shows that the vast majority of mixed age couples comprised a male and female partner. There is no indication that the change will have a disproportionate impact on the basis of sex.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:47:59 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1126913

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2019
	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has assessed the potential cost of providing transitional protection to mixed-age couples moving from pension credit and housing benefit to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	254835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The mixed age couples change will not apply to couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners on 14 May for as long as they remain entitled to either benefit. DWP wrote earlier this year to those mixed age couples already receiving Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners to ensure they know about the change and how they could be affected if their circumstances change on or after 15 May.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would be eligible for the pension age benefits under the current rules but have not claimed before 15 May will have up to 13 August to make a backdated claim to 14 May and we have encouraged them to do so.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/05/2019 14:34:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1127667

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	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: Fuel 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 proportion of pensioners who forewent heating as a result of a lack of funds in the last four months of 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	256409
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy administers the warm home discount scheme which provides assistance to around 2 million low income and vulnerable households (including 1.21m pensioners) with their energy costs. Further details can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme</a></p><p /><p>In 2018/19 the DWP is estimated to have spent £122bn on pensioner benefits which included £2bn on winter fuel payments to 12 million pensioners, the majority of whom received their payment before Christmas 2018.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the DWP also administers the cold weather payment scheme. For the period from the 1 November 2018 to the 31 March 2019, we estimate 438,000 payments were made to Pension Credit customers. Further details about the cold weather payment scheme can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment</a></p><p> </p><p>The DWP does not hold the specific information requested.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 23/05/2019 09:59:21 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1133577

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	Television Licences: Older People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of providing free TV licences to people over the age of 75 for qualifying residents in (a) Cardiff Central constituency and (b) Cardiff local authority area in (i) 2017-18 and (ii) 2018-19.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	267256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in June 2020.</p><p>The government and the BBC agreed this is a fair deal for the BBC - in return we closed the iPlayer loophole and committed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation. And to help with financial planning, we agreed to provide phased transitional funding over 2 years to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.</p><p>This reform was subject to public discussion and debated extensively during the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2017 through Parliament.</p><p>On 10 June 2019, the BBC <a href="https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/reports/consultation/age-related-tv-licence-policy" target="_blank">announced</a> that the current scheme will end. From 1 June 2020, a free TV licence will only be available to a household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit.</p><p>The table below provides estimates of the costs for 2017/18 of providing free TV licences to people aged 75 and over in the geographical areas requested, in nominal prices. The figures for 2018/19 will be available in September.</p><p /><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Expenditure (£m) (Nominal)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(a) Cardiff Central constituency</strong></p></td><td><p>£0.57</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>(b) Cardiff local authority area</strong></p></td><td><p>£2.88</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/06/2019 16:22:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1183911

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2020
	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, how many people aged 75 and over were in receipt of pension credit in each year from 2015 to 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	27560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2020 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>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>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>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>Pension Credit is an income-related benefit, which means that entitlement to the benefit will depend on an individual’s particular circumstances. It is therefore not possible to identify each person that is eligible, which is why we are encouraging people who think they may be eligible for Pension Credit to use the online Pension Credit calculator <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator</a> to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of Pension Credit claimants aged 75 and over between the years of 2015 and 2019 is shown below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of Pension Credit Claimants</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>926,494</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>951,529</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>993,031</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>1,033,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>1,102,497</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Note: Pension Credit is paid per household rather than per person like other benefits, therefore a Pension Credit Claimant can represent more than one person in receipt of Pension Credit. These figures represent the number of claimants as at August each year and represents those households where the main claimant is aged 75 and over and receiving payment.</p><p> </p><p>The information is published and available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 13/03/2020 10:10:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1218843

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2020
	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, how many people who were advised by the Government to shield in March 2020 were in receipt of pension credit.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	66089
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 07/07/2020 14:42:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens