§ 32. Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are eligible for winter fuel allowance.[124980]
§ Angela EagleLast winter around 10 million pensioners received a winter fuel payment. As a result of extending the scheme to eligible households containing someone aged 60 or over, the number of people who can benefit will increase by up to 1.5 million. We will also make backdated payments to up to 1.9 million people from the start of the scheme in the 1997–98 winter.
§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 June 2000,Official Report, columns 608–09W, for what reason the date of birth of a person as recorded on the NIRS2 computer system is not regarded as sufficient proof of age for purposes of a claim for a winter fuel payment.[126574]
§ Angela EagleThe Departmental Central Index (DCI) has information about all people who have a National Insurance number.
The NIRS computer system is not used directly by Benefits Agency (BA) staff for Winter Fuel purposes. Any information held on the NIRS system is, however, automatically transferred to DCI, and so once this transfer has taken place the information available to Benefit Agency staff on DCI will be the same as that held on MRS.
Where the date of birth held on DCI has been verified, then this is used as proof of age when considering entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP).
There are a considerable number of records on DCI where although the date of birth is recorded, it is not verified. In these instances it will be necessary for the Agency to obtain verification of the date of birth from the person applying for a WFP.