Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Monday 21st March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Jonathan Gullis (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Con)]

12. What steps she is taking to help support pensioners with the cost of living.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

20. What steps she is taking to help support pensioners with the cost of living.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

This year, we will spend more than £129 billion on the state pension and benefits for pensioners in Great Britain, including, as I said, £5 billion on pension credit for the vulnerable. Pensioners can also benefit from wider Government support with energy costs on top of the warm home discount, the winter fuel payment and cold weather support.

--- Later in debate ---

[Guy Opperman]

I have. Literally hundreds of pounds a month can become available in the form of support for housing, council tax, the TV licence for the over-75s, NHS dental, warm home discounts and many other things—as I am setting out in my hon. Friend’s local paper. I am delighted to say that in so many different ways we are making the case that pension credit and the support is out there for our local residents.

[Henry Smith]

What success has my hon. Friend had in ensuring there is greater take-up of pension credit in the Crawley constituency, and will he consider joining me at the older persons fair that I am planning to hold later this year?