§ 18. Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the state pension to those aged 80 years and above. [88043]
§ Mr. TimmsOur priority is to help those pensioners who are the least well off. Our minimum income guarantee for pensioners over 80, delivered through Income Support, is £82.25 for single people and £125.30 for couples. After next year's earnings uprating of the guarantee, pensioner couples over 80 will be around £ a Week better off in real terms than before the guarantee was introduced. Older pensioners will also benefit from the £100 winter fuel payment to be paid to every pensioner household before Christmas.