§ 19. Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to maximise take-up of pension credit. [138652]
§ Malcolm WicksWe want every pensioner to take up their entitlement. At the heart of our marketing campaign is a direct mail pack to all pensioner households who have not been converted to pension credit automatically. We will have written to all pensioner households by June 2004. To support this process we are running an advertising campaign on TV, radio and in the press to encourage pensioners to apply.
The Pension Service Local Service are also playing a key role in take-up of pension credit, particularly in encouraging pensioners who traditionally do not take up their entitlement to apply. Working closely with key partners such as Citizens Advice, Age Concern and local authorities and with local voluntary organisations the local service reach these pensioners at locations that suit their needs. Activities being undertaken include awareness sessions, information surgeries and take-up campaigns. Over this month the Local Service has held or plans to hold over 1,300 events which are expected to reach around 117,000 people.
482W
§ 21. Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates will be in receipt of means-tested benefits as a result of the introduction of the pension credit by 2004–05. [138654]
§ Malcolm WicksThe Department estimates that in 2004–05 there will be approximately three million pensioner benefit units receiving income related benefits.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the pension credit. [138637]
§ Malcolm WicksPension credit is making a real difference to the lives of millions of pensioners. As the Secretary of State reported on 11 November, at the end of October there were already 1.97 million pensioner households, around 2.3 million individuals, receiving pension credit. And 1.2 million households, around 1.4 million individuals, are now receiving more money than they did before, with the average award being £47.10 per week,Official Report, 11 November 2003, column 18WS.
Our advertising campaign is continuing and we are working with partner organisations, such as Help The Aged, Age Concern and Citizens Advice, to fulfil our aspiration that every pensioner takes up their entitlement.
And it is not too late to apply. Anyone who makes an application before October 2004, where entitlement exists, will have their award backdated to October 2003, or to the date entitlement begins if this is later.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what he estimates that the average(a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couple will receive each week under the pension credit in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South. [137982]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is for estimates. The figures set out in the following table are the actual average amounts.
Weekly average amount in payment (£) Area All claimants Couples Singles North West and Merseyside (GOR) 45.92 58.26 43.30 Merseyside Metropolitan County Council 46.24 56.66 43.95 St. Helens South Parliamentary Constituency 44.63 55.37 42.23 Notes:
1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (GMS) data.
2. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South have claimed the pension credit. [137985]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested.
483WAs at 17 October 2003 the number of people receiving pension credit in St. Helens South was 3,615, in Merseyside Metropolitan 67,185, and in the north west and Merseyside region 261,250.
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
2. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.
3. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by how much he estimates the income of the average(a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couples will change under the pension credit for (i) the north west region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St. Helens, South compared with that in 1997. [138014]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested.
As at 17 October 2003 the average weekly gain for those on Pension Credit is indicated in the table.
Average weekly gain (£) Area All claimants Couples Singles North west and Merseyside 5.31 7.40 4.86 Merseyside Metropolitan County Council 5.59 7.98 5.05 St. Helens. South Parliamentary Constituency 6.21 8.06 5.78 Notes:
1. Figures produced by IAD from 100 per cent Generalised Matching Service (GMS) data at 17 October 2003.
2. Gainer figures have been produced by comparing Pension Credit amount at 17 October 2003 with MIG amount immediately prior to introduction of Pension Credit.
3. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent sample.
The Government will be spending around £8 billion extra on pensioners in 2003–04 as a result of the measures introduced since 1997. This includes around –3.75 billion on the poorest third of pensioners—the very people who need help the most. This is almost six times as much as an earnings link to the basic state pension since 1998 would have given them.
Following the introduction of the Pension Credit, the average pensioner household will be £1,250 per year, or £24 per week, better off due to the Government's personal tax and benefit changes than they would have been under the 1997 system.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's plans are to ensure maximum take-up in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South of the pension credit. [138015]
§ Malcolm WicksI refer my hon. Friend to the written answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) on 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 559W. The Pension Service local service continues to work with partner organisations in the 484W north west, Merseyside and St. Helens South, including Age Concern, local authorities and local voluntary organisations, to tell pensioners about pension credit, raise awareness and encourage those eligible to apply. Activities at the local level are particularly aimed at encouraging applications from pensioners who traditionally do not take up their entitlement and include awareness sessions, information surgeries and take-up campaigns.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South are entitled to the pension credit. [138016]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information is not available in the format requested but we estimate that around 500,000 pensioner households in the North West and Merseyside region are eligible for Pension Credit.