Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the number and proportion of 2006 Attitudes to Pension Survey participants who (a) were women, (b) were born in the 1950s and (c) reported awareness of the changes to the State Pension age, broken down by those aged (i) 45-54 and (ii) 55-64 at the time of the survey.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our response to the PHSO report on the communication of changes to State Pension age was based on evidence of awareness of the change from two key reports.
The Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation, published in 2004, was conducted as part of the National Statistics Omnibus survey and interviewed a representative sample of around 2,700 working age adults. This 2004 research found that 73% of respondents aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age for women was increasing, with no significant gender differences in awareness levels. Both the 2004 and 2006 awareness surveys, based on independent samples, demonstrate a high level of awareness of State Pension age changes amongst 45–54-year-old women.
The Attitudes to Pensions: the 2006 Survey was a large-scale survey commissioned by DWP and carried out by the respected National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the School of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham. The authors included a mix of academics and research professionals, experienced in survey design and delivery, and the report was quality assured to Government Social Research standards. Almost 2,000 adults took part in the survey, and weightings were applied to ensure results were representative of the population.
The percentage of women who reported knowing that women’s State Pension age would increase in the future was 90% for women aged 45-54, and 86% for women aged 55-64.
Those born in the 1950s would have been 46-56 at the time of this survey. The closest age category provided by the survey is the female 45-54 subgroup, which has a sample size of 203, and makes up 10.4% of the overall sample of 1,950 individuals aged 18 to 69. With a sample of this size, we can get a reliable estimate of the percentage of women among this group who reported knowing that the women’s State Pension age would increase in the future. Using confidence intervals, we can have 95% confidence that this figure would be around 85-95%.
The 95% level is a widely accepted standard of confidence. Therefore, even at the lower estimate, the data shows the majority of 1950s women were aware.
The exact number of women born in the 1950s in the 55-64 age group is not given in the survey report. However, assuming an even spread, by far the majority of this group falls within the 45-54 subgroup of respondents in the survey. Those who are in the relevant age group but don't fall in the 45-54 subgroup would be in the 55-64 subgroup, and the rate of knowing about the increase in women’s State Pension age is 86% for this group, which corroborates that there were high levels of awareness.
There were 227 women aged 55-64 included in the survey, which represents 11.6% of the overall sample of individuals aged 18 to 69.
Further information on the design and make up of the survey is available in the survey report.
The 2006 Attitudes to Pensions Survey report is available online at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100208141655mp_/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep434.pdf.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the data her Department holds from the 2006 Attitudes to Pension Survey on the levels of awareness of the proposed increase in State Pension age for women born in the 1950s.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our response to the PHSO report on the communication of changes to State Pension age was based on evidence of awareness of the change from two key reports.
The Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation, published in 2004, was conducted as part of the National Statistics Omnibus survey and interviewed a representative sample of around 2,700 working age adults. This 2004 research found that 73% of respondents aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age for women was increasing, with no significant gender differences in awareness levels. Both the 2004 and 2006 awareness surveys, based on independent samples, demonstrate a high level of awareness of State Pension age changes amongst 45–54-year-old women.
The Attitudes to Pensions: the 2006 Survey was a large-scale survey commissioned by DWP and carried out by the respected National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the School of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham. The authors included a mix of academics and research professionals, experienced in survey design and delivery, and the report was quality assured to Government Social Research standards. Almost 2,000 adults took part in the survey, and weightings were applied to ensure results were representative of the population.
The percentage of women who reported knowing that women’s State Pension age would increase in the future was 90% for women aged 45-54, and 86% for women aged 55-64.
Those born in the 1950s would have been 46-56 at the time of this survey. The closest age category provided by the survey is the female 45-54 subgroup, which has a sample size of 203, and makes up 10.4% of the overall sample of 1,950 individuals aged 18 to 69. With a sample of this size, we can get a reliable estimate of the percentage of women among this group who reported knowing that the women’s State Pension age would increase in the future. Using confidence intervals, we can have 95% confidence that this figure would be around 85-95%.
The 95% level is a widely accepted standard of confidence. Therefore, even at the lower estimate, the data shows the majority of 1950s women were aware.
The exact number of women born in the 1950s in the 55-64 age group is not given in the survey report. However, assuming an even spread, by far the majority of this group falls within the 45-54 subgroup of respondents in the survey. Those who are in the relevant age group but don't fall in the 45-54 subgroup would be in the 55-64 subgroup, and the rate of knowing about the increase in women’s State Pension age is 86% for this group, which corroborates that there were high levels of awareness.
There were 227 women aged 55-64 included in the survey, which represents 11.6% of the overall sample of individuals aged 18 to 69.
Further information on the design and make up of the survey is available in the survey report.
The 2006 Attitudes to Pensions Survey report is available online at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100208141655mp_/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep434.pdf.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of the 2006 Attitudes to Pension Survey participants aged between 18 and 69 were women born in the 1950s.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our response to the PHSO report on the communication of changes to State Pension age was based on evidence of awareness of the change from two key reports.
The Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation, published in 2004, was conducted as part of the National Statistics Omnibus survey and interviewed a representative sample of around 2,700 working age adults. This 2004 research found that 73% of respondents aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age for women was increasing, with no significant gender differences in awareness levels. Both the 2004 and 2006 awareness surveys, based on independent samples, demonstrate a high level of awareness of State Pension age changes amongst 45–54-year-old women.
The Attitudes to Pensions: the 2006 Survey was a large-scale survey commissioned by DWP and carried out by the respected National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the School of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham. The authors included a mix of academics and research professionals, experienced in survey design and delivery, and the report was quality assured to Government Social Research standards. Almost 2,000 adults took part in the survey, and weightings were applied to ensure results were representative of the population.
The percentage of women who reported knowing that women’s State Pension age would increase in the future was 90% for women aged 45-54, and 86% for women aged 55-64.
Those born in the 1950s would have been 46-56 at the time of this survey. The closest age category provided by the survey is the female 45-54 subgroup, which has a sample size of 203, and makes up 10.4% of the overall sample of 1,950 individuals aged 18 to 69. With a sample of this size, we can get a reliable estimate of the percentage of women among this group who reported knowing that the women’s State Pension age would increase in the future. Using confidence intervals, we can have 95% confidence that this figure would be around 85-95%.
The 95% level is a widely accepted standard of confidence. Therefore, even at the lower estimate, the data shows the majority of 1950s women were aware.
The exact number of women born in the 1950s in the 55-64 age group is not given in the survey report. However, assuming an even spread, by far the majority of this group falls within the 45-54 subgroup of respondents in the survey. Those who are in the relevant age group but don't fall in the 45-54 subgroup would be in the 55-64 subgroup, and the rate of knowing about the increase in women’s State Pension age is 86% for this group, which corroborates that there were high levels of awareness.
There were 227 women aged 55-64 included in the survey, which represents 11.6% of the overall sample of individuals aged 18 to 69.
Further information on the design and make up of the survey is available in the survey report.
The 2006 Attitudes to Pensions Survey report is available online at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100208141655mp_/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep434.pdf.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of 2006 Attitudes to Pension Survey participants were (a) in the 55-64 age group and (b) women born in the 1950s.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our response to the PHSO report on the communication of changes to State Pension age was based on evidence of awareness of the change from two key reports.
The Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation, published in 2004, was conducted as part of the National Statistics Omnibus survey and interviewed a representative sample of around 2,700 working age adults. This 2004 research found that 73% of respondents aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age for women was increasing, with no significant gender differences in awareness levels. Both the 2004 and 2006 awareness surveys, based on independent samples, demonstrate a high level of awareness of State Pension age changes amongst 45–54-year-old women.
The Attitudes to Pensions: the 2006 Survey was a large-scale survey commissioned by DWP and carried out by the respected National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the School of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham. The authors included a mix of academics and research professionals, experienced in survey design and delivery, and the report was quality assured to Government Social Research standards. Almost 2,000 adults took part in the survey, and weightings were applied to ensure results were representative of the population.
The percentage of women who reported knowing that women’s State Pension age would increase in the future was 90% for women aged 45-54, and 86% for women aged 55-64.
Those born in the 1950s would have been 46-56 at the time of this survey. The closest age category provided by the survey is the female 45-54 subgroup, which has a sample size of 203, and makes up 10.4% of the overall sample of 1,950 individuals aged 18 to 69. With a sample of this size, we can get a reliable estimate of the percentage of women among this group who reported knowing that the women’s State Pension age would increase in the future. Using confidence intervals, we can have 95% confidence that this figure would be around 85-95%.
The 95% level is a widely accepted standard of confidence. Therefore, even at the lower estimate, the data shows the majority of 1950s women were aware.
The exact number of women born in the 1950s in the 55-64 age group is not given in the survey report. However, assuming an even spread, by far the majority of this group falls within the 45-54 subgroup of respondents in the survey. Those who are in the relevant age group but don't fall in the 45-54 subgroup would be in the 55-64 subgroup, and the rate of knowing about the increase in women’s State Pension age is 86% for this group, which corroborates that there were high levels of awareness.
There were 227 women aged 55-64 included in the survey, which represents 11.6% of the overall sample of individuals aged 18 to 69.
Further information on the design and make up of the survey is available in the survey report.
The 2006 Attitudes to Pensions Survey report is available online at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100208141655mp_/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep434.pdf.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of 2006 Attitudes to Pension Survey participants were (a) in the 45-54 age group and (b) women born in the 1950s.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our response to the PHSO report on the communication of changes to State Pension age was based on evidence of awareness of the change from two key reports.
The Public Awareness of State Pension Age Equalisation, published in 2004, was conducted as part of the National Statistics Omnibus survey and interviewed a representative sample of around 2,700 working age adults. This 2004 research found that 73% of respondents aged 45-54 were aware that the State Pension age for women was increasing, with no significant gender differences in awareness levels. Both the 2004 and 2006 awareness surveys, based on independent samples, demonstrate a high level of awareness of State Pension age changes amongst 45–54-year-old women.
The Attitudes to Pensions: the 2006 Survey was a large-scale survey commissioned by DWP and carried out by the respected National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and the School of Social Sciences, University of Birmingham. The authors included a mix of academics and research professionals, experienced in survey design and delivery, and the report was quality assured to Government Social Research standards. Almost 2,000 adults took part in the survey, and weightings were applied to ensure results were representative of the population.
The percentage of women who reported knowing that women’s State Pension age would increase in the future was 90% for women aged 45-54, and 86% for women aged 55-64.
Those born in the 1950s would have been 46-56 at the time of this survey. The closest age category provided by the survey is the female 45-54 subgroup, which has a sample size of 203, and makes up 10.4% of the overall sample of 1,950 individuals aged 18 to 69. With a sample of this size, we can get a reliable estimate of the percentage of women among this group who reported knowing that the women’s State Pension age would increase in the future. Using confidence intervals, we can have 95% confidence that this figure would be around 85-95%.
The 95% level is a widely accepted standard of confidence. Therefore, even at the lower estimate, the data shows the majority of 1950s women were aware.
The exact number of women born in the 1950s in the 55-64 age group is not given in the survey report. However, assuming an even spread, by far the majority of this group falls within the 45-54 subgroup of respondents in the survey. Those who are in the relevant age group but don't fall in the 45-54 subgroup would be in the 55-64 subgroup, and the rate of knowing about the increase in women’s State Pension age is 86% for this group, which corroborates that there were high levels of awareness.
There were 227 women aged 55-64 included in the survey, which represents 11.6% of the overall sample of individuals aged 18 to 69.
Further information on the design and make up of the survey is available in the survey report.
The 2006 Attitudes to Pensions Survey report is available online at https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100208141655mp_/http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep434.pdf.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending bereavement support payments to widowers who were unmarried and living with their partner but who were not pregnant or eligible for child benefit.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Bereavement Support Payment is currently only available to those who are married, in a cohabiting relationship with dependent children, or in a civil partnership. A marriage or civil partnership is a legal contract associated with certain rights. including entitlement to benefits derived from another person's National Insurance contributions such as Bereavement Support Payment. In February 2023, the Government extended bereavement benefits to cohabitees with children in response to two court judgments. However, for families without children, the basic principle for only paying BSP where there was a legal union remains. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits including Bereavement Support Payments, under review.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
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 communicate with (a) people and (b) households eligible for Pension Credit who have not yet applied for it to encourage Pension Credit take up.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
In order to maximise the take-up of Pension Credit, we have been running an extensive national campaign since September on a range of channels, including print and broadcast media to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. The campaign targets potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.
We continue to engage with a range of external partners who can help promote Pension Credit through their own channels and networks.
Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, the Department will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit. We can identify and target these households using DWP’s Housing Benefit data.
We are also asking local authorities to support our Pension Credit campaign - the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities in August. Many already undertake their own initiatives to identify eligible households and promote take-up; and over 160 local authorities have responded positively to our ‘call for action’.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department takes to identify (a) people and (b) households eligible for Pension Credit who have not applied for it.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Building on last year’s ‘Invitation to Claim’ trial, the Department will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may also be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit. We can identify and target these households using DWP’s Housing Benefit data.
In order to maximise the take-up of Pension Credit, we have been running an extensive national campaign since September on a range of channels, including print and broadcast media to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. The campaign targets potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.
We continue to engage with a range of external partners who can help promote Pension Credit through their own channels and networks.
We are also asking local authorities to support our Pension Credit campaign - the Secretary of State and the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to all local authorities in August. Many already undertake their own initiatives to identify eligible households and promote take-up; and over 160 local authorities have responded positively to our ‘call for action’
Like all means-tested benefits, a person’s eligibility for Pension Credit and the amount they may get depends on their specific financial and personal household circumstances, information which DWP does not have. That’s why it is not currently possible to accurately identify people who may be entitled to Pension Credit just from DWP data.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the (a) potential merits and (b) cost of expanding eligibility for winter fuel payments to those reaching state pension age in winter 2023-24.
Answered by Paul Maynard
An individual is entitled to a winter fuel payment if they have reached State Pension age by the end of the 'qualifying week', which has been defined in law since 1999 as the week beginning on the third Monday in September.
This is to allow time to check eligibility, make the calculations (which in some cases include an assessment of household formation as well as date of birth and place of residence), and make payments as far as possible before Christmas.
In 2023, the number of people who claimed State Pension between the end of the qualifying week (25 September) and Christmas (data available to 17 December) was 158,803.
Source: Power BI
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Independent - Salford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people who are (a) usually eligible for (i) Universal Credit and (ii) other benefits and (b) have received a nil award for those benefits in the qualifying period because they have received non-consolidated additional backpay from the NHS for the year 2022-23 will receive all the cost of living payments they would otherwise be entitled to in 2023-24.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
Employees who receive arrears of earnings and/or lump sum payments in one month, could have their Universal Credit award reduced to zero in the same month (known as a ‘nil award’). Claimants who receive a ‘nil award’ in the qualifying period will not have an entitlement to a Cost of Living Payment.
We are unable to distinguish whether an increase to a claimant’s earnings is temporary or permanent.
However, we are delivering the Cost of Living Payment in three separate payments over 2023/24 to reduce the chance of someone missing out altogether. Those who do not qualify for an instalment of the Cost of Living Payment may qualify for another Payment.