Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households (a) are eligible and (b) have received Cold Weather Payments in 2024, broken down by week.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
(a) Table 1 shows the number of estimated eligible qualifiers across 2024.
Table 1: Number of Estimated Eligible Recipients in England and Wales
Season (1st November-31st March) | Estimated Eligible Recipients (England and Wales) |
2023/24 | 3,921,000 |
2024/25 | 4,116,000 |
Due to the nature of eligibility, we are unable to breakdown to the household level.
(b) Tables 2 and 3 show the breakdown of weekly payments made in 2024- these are from the 2023/24 season running from the 1st November 2023-31st March 2024 and the start of the 2024/25 season 1st-22nd November 2024.
Table 2: Payments made to estimated qualifiers in England and Wales, 2024- from the 2023/24 season.
Week Commencing | Triggers | Estimated Payments Made (England and Wales) |
|
|
|
29 December 2023 | 0 | 0 |
5 January 2024 | 0 | 0 |
12 January 2024 | 3 | 11,000 |
19 January 2024 | 9 | 362,000 |
26 January 2024 | 5 | 204,000 |
2 February 2024 | 0 | 0 |
9 February 2024 | 0 | 0 |
16 February 2024 | 0 | 0 |
23 February 2024 | 0 | 0 |
1 March 2024 | 0 | 0 |
8 March 2024 | 0 | 0 |
15 March 2024 | 0 | 0 |
22 March 2024 | 0 | 0 |
29 March 2024 | 0 | 0 |
5 April 2024 | 0 | 0 |
Table 3: Payments made to Estimated Qualifiers in England and Wales so Far- from the 2024/25 season.
Week Commencing | Triggers | Estimated Payments Made (England and Wales) |
1 November 2024 | 0 | 0 |
8 November 2024 | 0 | 0 |
15 November 2024 | 0 | 0 |
22 November 2024 | 3 | 6000 |
Please note-
1) Figures are estimated based on the number of individuals eligible at the start of the season. See the methodology document for further details,
and guidance on how to estimate the number of payments and expenditure, here:
2) Figures are shown by the week or month the payment was triggered - that is, the day that the recorded/forecasted temperatures for the seven
day period caused payments to be authorised. The recipient should receive the payment within 14 days.
3) All volumes are rounded to the nearest 1,000
4) The figures include claimants meeting the legacy benefit and Universal Credit eligibility criteria for Cold Weather Payments.
Future publications for the 2024-25 Cold Weather Season can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cold-weather-payment-estimates-2024-to-2025
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7923 on Housing Benefit: Young People, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of adjusting the housing benefit taper for people in supported accommodation; and with which stakeholders he plans to consider the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for people residing in supported housing and temporary accommodation.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As you are aware, there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in supported housing and temporary accommodation. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders.
We have engaged with a range of stakeholders including Centrepoint, St Mungo’s, BHT Sussex, the Cardinal Hume Centre, Your Place and Homeless Link about this issue and plan to continue conversations with these and other organisations in the future about this issue.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will expand eligibility for Winter Fuel Allowance to older people ineligible for Pension Credit who receive (a) Housing Benefit, (b) Local Housing Allowance, (c) Council Tax Support, (d) any benefits related to having a disability, (e) Attendance Allowance and (f) Carer's Allowance.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits: Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over. This means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low-income pensioners who need it most. The Government has no plans to change the eligibility conditions.
The Government wants those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to, including their Winter Fuel Payment. As part of this, we have started a new drive to increase take-up of Pension Credit. We know there are low-income pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply.
We will shortly be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioners who are in receipt of Housing Benefit and who may be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit. We will be inviting these pensioners to claim Pension Credit ahead of 21st December so that they may also be entitled to this year’s Winter Fuel Payment.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential (a) impact of non-take up of Pension Credit by eligible people on their ability to meet fuel costs this winter and (b) merits of providing an automatic Pension Credit assessment for people who reach State Pension age with an opt-out option for people who (i) know they do not qualify and (ii) choose not to claim.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is determined to protect the poorest pensioners and target support to those in greatest need. 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 over 80.
We want those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to, including the Winter Fuel Payment. That’s why we have launched a nationwide campaign, joining forces with key partners and stakeholders to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim. Our campaign is also aimed at those who can influence, encourage and support their older family members and friends to apply.
Although it is not possible to automatically assess everyone reaching State Pension age for Pension Credit, we will be directly contacting approximately 120,000 pensioner households currently receiving Housing Benefit and who we have identified – based on the data we have – may be eligible for, but not currently claiming, Pension Credit.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an equalities impact assessment of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Regulations will come into force on 16 September, the first day of the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying week.
In making her decision on Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, the Secretary of State had regard to the equality analysis in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty requirements.