Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me about support for pensioners. I can assure you that helping low-income pensioners is a top priority. Everyone deserves a comfortable retirement, which is why I support maintaining the triple lock policy.

This means that the State Pension will continue to increase annually by the highest of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%. I welcome that, thanks to the triple lock, the State Pension has increased by £470 from April this year. Pension Credit was also uprated by more than 4%. However, relatively few low-income pensioners are claiming this benefit, which is the Government took immediate action to boost its take-up shortly after taking office last year. Since then, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has written to around 11 million pensioners about claiming Pension Credit. The DWP has also worked with charities and local authorities, and launched a campaign across radio, TV and print media. These efforts have already resulted in almost 60,000 new awards, and they will continue. I am pleased to confirm that, to guarantee even greater uptake, the administration of Pension Credit and pensioner Housing Benefit will be merged for new claimants, starting in 2026.

As you probably know, Ministers have announced that all pensioners with incomes up to and including £35,000, as well as those on Pension Credit and income-related benefits, will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment from this winter. Nobody will need to take any action to receive the payment, as it will be administered to all pensioners before being automatically reclaimed from those earning above the threshold through the tax system. Means-testing the payment will save £450 million per year, compared to a universal approach, and it will have no effect whatsoever on poverty. This is not only fair, but the Government is clear that it is financially sustainable. Full costings will be set out during the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Finally, I am committed to protecting older people’s rights and wellbeing. While the Equality Act 2010 already provides strong protections against age discrimination, Ministers are looking closely at the experience of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales to inform any further steps for England.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Best wishes

Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland