Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of increasing the pension credit threshold.

Pension Credit is an income related benefit that provides a top up to a guaranteed minimum income (known as the Standard Minimum Guarantee) of £163.00 weekly for a single pensioner and £248.80 for couples. Extra amounts may be payable in respect of severe disability, caring or certain housing costs.

There is a legal requirement to uprate the Standard Minimum Guarantee each year by at least average earnings. This year (from April 2018) the Standard Minimum Guarantee was increased by more than earnings in order to match the cash increase in the full rate of the basic State Pension.