Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to assist customers of Post Office card accounts who will no longer be able to use those accounts for the receipt of benefits as of November 2021.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is committed to supporting claimants to access their benefit and pension payments as we transform our payment exception services. Nobody will be left without a means to access to their benefits or pension.
The Department has put in place a dedicated team, the Financial Inclusion Customer Contact Centre. This team are able to support all Post Office Card Account customers to update their payment details to a standard account, answer questions about the payment change and to signpost customers to impartial financial advice available through the Money and Pensions Service where they need help to identify a suitable alternative account.
Customers who are unable to access a standard account will continue to receive their benefit and pension payments through an alternative payment exception service.
The Financial Inclusion Customer Contact Centre can be contacted on 0800 085 7133 Freephone.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department has not increased the state pension to assist people through the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In April 2020, the Government increased the rates of the basic and new State Pensions by 3.9%, in line with average earnings growth. This was the highest increase since 2012. In cash terms, it took the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension to over £1,900 more than it had been in April 2010.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government introduced an Uprating Bill to ensure State Pension and Pension Credit could be increased from April 2021. The Secretary of State will very shortly be announcing the outcome of her annual uprating review which will set out planned increases for State Pension rates for 2021/22.
Asked by: Colum Eastwood (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Foyle)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to provide an uplift to the state pension beyond inflation, in line with the increase to universal credit introduced in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has no such plans.