Contributions
571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMoney and Pensions ServiceAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the Money and Pensions Service commissions other charities, particularly to work with hard-to-reach vulnerable people. We continue to review its…03 Dec 2024HANSARDMoney and Pensions ServiceMy hon. Friend has been a tireless campaigner on this issue. We are reforming buy now, pay later, as the Economic Secretary recently stated in answer to my hon. Friend in the…03 Dec 2024HANSARDMoney and Pensions ServiceThe Money and Pensions Service plays a vital role in supporting individuals to manage their money effectively. Its funding levels are regularly reviewed to reflect demand,…03 Dec 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI thank the hon. Gentleman for that question. I am afraid that I cannot commit to extending the deadline. It is important that we encourage as many pensioners as possible—I know…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentAs I said, we have redeployed an additional 500 members of staff to process applications for pension credit and we are mostly hitting the target for processing times.12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentWe have written to all pensioners to tell them about the change in Government policy to ensure that those who are not in receipt of pension credit or other benefits know that they…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentWe have run several campaigns, the latest of which was launched recently on radio and TV and in print media, to urge those who may be eligible to apply, and to urge their loved…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI would be very pleased if all pensioners who are eligible for pension credit applied and received the help that they deserve.12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentThe hon. Lady’s question allows me to focus on the communications around this change. It is not just about pension credit, but about people on working tax credit, child tax credit…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI quote one of the hon. Lady’s fellow politicians: “I have people in my constituency telling me that they don’t need the winter fuel payments that we give them because they can…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI urge the hon. Lady to look at the support available to low income households through the warm homes discount scheme, the extension of the household support fund and our…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentThe previous Government promised 13 years ago to merge housing benefit with pension credit, which would be a significant advance towards improvements. We are introducing that in…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentYes, as I understand it that is in the Scottish Government’s gift.12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentNo.12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentWe will announce new statistics at the end of this month. The committee asked about the 5% increase; that assumption is based on what happened when the previous Government took…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentIf the hon. Lady looks at the equality analysis, she will see that those with a disability will be disproportionately likely to retain the winter fuel payment. I urge her to have…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentWe welcome the letter from the chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee. We were hoping to respond to the letter on the day of the Budget. Regrettably, there has been an…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI do apologise for the delay in responding to the committee’s letter; it is regrettable. The initial delay, as I set out, was because we were waiting for the OBR to come forward…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentI am proud of the last Labour Government’s record of lifting over a million pensioners out of poverty. We do expect to make savings of about £1.4 billion this year through…12 Nov 2024HANSARD Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel PaymentWe are deploying an additional 500 staff to deal with the substantial increase—over 150%—in claims. That is the right thing to do. It is an operational focus for the Department to…12 Nov 2024