Winter Fuel Payments

HC Deb 06 May 1998 vol 311 cc425-6W

Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have not received their winter fuel payments. [39713]

Mr. Denham

Winter Fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. A total of £400 million has been committed for two years (1997–98 and 1998–99), to help pensioners with fuel bills to pay. This is the first time any Government have provided additional help with heating costs to all pensioners living in the United Kingdom who receive a retirement pension or one of a number of other qualifying benefits.

The making of last winter's payments was an enormous and unprecedented exercise. In order to establish all eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should receive, it was necessary to correlate data in around 15 million computer records, involving 15 qualifying benefits, across nine computer systems. Overall, almost ten million pensioners, in over seven million households, received a payment.

The administration of winter fuel payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. lain Duncan Smith, dated 30 April 1998:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have not received their winter fuel payments.All eligible pensioners should now have received their payments. If someone has not received a payment, but is expecting one, he or she should contact the office which normally deals with their pension or benefit, or alternatively, call the dedicated helpline set up to deal with winter fuel payment enquiries (telephone [phone]).Out of the six million payments issued to the Post Office, we are aware that a number have still not been collected. Based on contact with a limited number of the 20,000 Post Offices in Great Britain, it was estimated last week that around 100,000 payments may still have not been collected. The Post Office have been instructed to return all payments to the nearest Benefits Agency (BA) office on 1 May. On receipt of those unclaimed girocheques, the BA will follow up each case and make every effort to ensure any amounts still due are paid promptly.Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position.