§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the current research into non-take up of income support by pensioners will attempt to assess the impact of non-take up on the standard of living of the pensioners concerned. [48071]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Department has commissioned research among pensioners to explore their attitudes to claiming Income Support. The research aims to provide a fuller picture of why pensioners apparently entitled to Income Support do not claim it.
The research will collect information on indicators of hardship which will be used to assess whether different groups of pensioner non-claimants experience different living standards. These indicators include material measures relating to food, clothing, heating and consumer durables and details of finances, including savings, debts and loans.
In addition to the research, we are taking immediate practical steps to assist the poorest pensioners by piloting new ways of identifying potential Income Support beneficiaries and then testing how best to encourage them to claim.