Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the 100,000 additional pensioners moving into poverty as a result of changes to winter fuel payments.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1 per cent increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.
We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we are urging pensioners to come forward and check their eligibility for Pension Credit to ensure as many people in need as possible have access to this support. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them.
Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them, as they may be able to receive support from the Household Support Fund, Council Tax Reduction, or through energy support programmes such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of the population in each region are claiming incapacity benefits.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on benefit combinations on Stat-Xplore, which include those claiming incapacity benefits, where an individual claims one or more of Universal Credit (Health Journey), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Incapacity Benefit (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (DSA), and Income Support (Incapacity Based) (IS(IB)).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes mid-year population estimates for England and Wales, and Scotland.
The administration of Incapacity benefits in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Department for Communities.
The extracted statistics and the calculated estimated percentage of the total population on incapacity benefits in February 2024 are shown in the following table.
Number of individuals claiming incapacity benefits, February 2024, mid-year population estimates for England and Wales mid-2023 and Scotland mid-2022, estimated percentage of the population on incapacity benefits, February 2024.
Regions | Claimants on incapacity benefits | Mid-year Population Estimates | Estimated percentage of the total population on incapacity benefits |
North East | 186,734 | 2,711,380 | 6.9% |
North West | 474,790 | 7,600,126 | 6.2% |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 318,191 | 5,594,125 | 5.7% |
East Midlands | 244,835 | 4,991,265 | 4.9% |
West Midlands | 319,138 | 6,085,687 | 5.2% |
East of England | 260,988 | 6,468,665 | 4.0% |
London | 404,646 | 8,945,309 | 4.5% |
South East | 340,698 | 9,482,507 | 3.6% |
South West | 262,208 | 5,811,259 | 4.5% |
Wales | 218,571 | 3,164,404 | 6.9% |
Scotland | 364,308 | 5,447,700 | 6.7% |
Source: Stat-Xplore, ONS Population Estimates
Note:
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on pensioners of the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over.
Immediate support for pensioners includes our commitment to the Triple Lock, with over 12 million pensioners set to benefit through the course of this parliament, with the full yearly rate of the new State Pensions forecast to increase by around £1700.
We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. The government will work with external partners and local authorities to boost the uptake of Pension Credit and to target additional support to the poorest pensioners. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.
We are also providing support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.
The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.
The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.
Over the past two years, energy bills have fallen. Between 1 October to 31 December 2024 Ofgem’s energy price cap is set at £1717 per year for a typical household. This means the price cap for October to December 2024 will be more than 5% lower (£117 less) than for October to December 2023.
Our other steps include cutting waiting times in the NHS which will help many pensioners currently waiting in pain and discomfort for treatment, and delivering the economic stability which is so crucial for pensioners.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the WorkWell scheme to other regions in England, and what consultations they have had with integrated care boards concerning the implementation of the scheme.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
WorkWell is a pilot programme running in 15 sites in England. The planned evaluation of the pilot will bolster our evidence base on what works to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. Future decisions, including on any expansion, will be subject to the evidence generated through the pilot.
We have undertaken an extensive programme of engagement with Integrated Care Boards prior to the announcement of the pilot areas and will continue to work with pilot areas as they design and deliver the WorkWell pilots.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable the long-term sick to return to work.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
A range of Government initiatives are supporting disabled people and the long-term sick to start, stay, and succeed in work. These include:
To tackle rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, we announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work. New investment will provide faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions, the two leading causes of economic inactivity due to long term sickness.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that disabled people entering employment are not financially disadvantaged.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott - Opposition Whip (Lords)
There are a range of DWP initiatives that support disabled people and people with health conditions to live independent lives and start, stay and succeed in employment. These include the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, Access to Work, Disability Confident and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advisers in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services.
The Green Paper explored how the benefits system can better meet the needs of claimants now and in the future, by improving claimant experience of our services, enabling independent living, and improving employment outcomes. We remain committed to responding to this Green Paper consultation with a White Paper later this year.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the £20 increase in Universal Credit will be retained.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott - Opposition Whip (Lords)
Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and we announced the temporary uplift as part of a £400 billion package of measures put in place that will last well beyond the end of the roadmap. Our focus now is on our multi-billion Plan for Jobs, which will support people in the long-term by helping them learn new skills and increase their hours or find new work.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on the roll-out of universal credit.
Answered by Mark Harper
We remain committed to a cross-Government approach to undertaking the most significant reform of the benefits system for a generation. The Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are integral to this approach and there is regular contact between both Ministerial and official counterparts. Further, at a working level, officials from the Devolved Administrations are represented on a number of Universal Credit boards, taskforces and advisory groups.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change there has been in the level of unemployment in South Antrim constituency since 2010.
Answered by Mark Harper
The Department for Work and Pensions is not responsible for such matters in Northern Ireland and the question should be referred to the Northern Ireland Executive.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department offers to young people seeking employment across the UK; and what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on that matter.
Answered by Esther McVey
Over the last year the number of young people in work in the UK has risen by more than in the rest of the European Union put together. Youth unemployment has fallen by nearly 200,000 since 2010 and the youth claimant count is at its lowest level since the 1970s.
Across Britain, all claimants are offered tailored support from day one of their claim. Through the Youth Contract, additional support is provided by Jobcentre Plus advisers to all 18-24 year olds. The Youth Contract has made available an extra 250,000 work experience and sector based work academy places. Those who require more focused or specialised training are supported through traineeships and apprenticeships.
Ministers and officials at the Department for Work and Pensions have regular contact with their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss a range of issues.