Debates between Jamie Stone and Emma Reynolds during the 2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Stone and Emma Reynolds
Tuesday 3rd December 2024

(2 weeks, 6 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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I am a Minister in both the Treasury and the DWP, so I have conversations with officials about this all the time. We are absolutely determined that those who are eligible for pension credit should be aware that they can apply for it, given our big campaign to raise awareness—only last week we launched a TV campaign on the issue. We have also deployed an additional 500 staff to process those pension credit claims. Thanks to our campaign there has been a 145% increase in the number of claims, which is why the processing is taking a little longer, but we are absolutely focused on speeding it up and ensuring that those who are eligible receive the help they need.

Jamie Stone Portrait Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
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8. What fiscal steps she is taking to increase economic growth in rural areas.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jamie Stone and Emma Reynolds
Monday 11th November 2024

(1 month, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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We have seen a 152% increase in pension credit claims since late July, with over 74,000 pension credit claims up to mid-September. We know that many local authorities and, indeed, Members of this House—including me last Thursday—are helping pensioners on low incomes to ascertain whether they are due pension credit.

Jamie Stone Portrait Jamie Stone
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There will be people who are eligible for pension credit living in very remote areas, where connectivity is less than great. It is an appalling thought that they might miss out on what they are due. May I suggest to the Department that the way to reach out to those people might be through a database, followed by a mailshot?

Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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In addition to merging housing benefit and pension credit, which will help some of the people whom the hon. Gentleman has in mind, the Secretary of State and I have asked the Department to look at what can be done to make the application form simpler. The Department will report back to us by the end of the month, and we will update the House in due course.