Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has asked the government to outline what progress has been made in reaching pensioners who may be missing out on vital financial support.
The big picture: Spencer's question to Emma Reynolds, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, follows changes to Winter Fuel Payment announced on July 29. Around 20,000 pensioners in Ipswich are expected to lose their payments this winter.
Why it matters: Thousands of pensioners who receive housing benefits could be eligible for additional pension credit payments but are not currently claiming them.
What they're saying: Reynolds confirmed that the government had identified approximately 120,000 pensioners nationwide who receive Housing Benefits but may be missing out on Pension Credit payments they're entitled to and that the government will write to these households shortly.
By the numbers:
The government expects Pension Credit take-up to increase by 5 percentage points.
This could mean around 100,000 successful new claims by December 21, 2024.
Claims can be backdated up to 3 months to ensure entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment for 2024/25.
Looking ahead: The government plans to combine the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit to streamline the process for pensioner households.
