§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to simplify the procedure for applying for Pension Credit, with particular reference to pensioners with savings. [159726]
§ Malcolm WicksThe application process for Pension Credit has been designed to be straightforward for pensioners and their family and friends, who may apply on their behalf. The Pension Credit application line (freephone 0800 99 1234), which is the main method of applying, is working well and has taken over 2.3 million calls (to the end of January) since it became operational on 7 April 2003. The Pension Service is able to offer alternative ways of applying to suit individual circumstances. Recent independent research, a summary of which is available in the Library, found high levels of customer satisfaction with the application line and with the application process overall. We continue to review and improve the application process in the light of experience, including improvements to make it easier for people with savings to provide the required information and documentary evidence.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the percentage increase is in the number of pension credit households from the introduction of pension credit to the most recent available date in each parliamentary constituency. [160217]
§ Malcolm WicksA table showing the percentage increase in the number of pension credit households between 17 October 2003 and 31 January 2004, for each parliamentary constituency in Great Britain, has been placed in the Library.