Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2022 to Question 31232 on Pension Credit and the Answer of 11 July 2022 to Question 31233 on Pension Credit, what estimate she has made of the number of people eligible for Pension Credit who have not yet applied; and what assessment she has made of the potential reasons for people not applying for Pension Credit.

The latest published estimates for the number of people eligible for Pension Credit relate to the financial year 2019 to 2020 and show that up to 850,000 pensioner households were eligible for but not claiming Pension Credit. These are available in the Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up publication which can be found on the statistics section of gov.uk. Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Previous DWP research found that the main reason pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit is because they believe that they are not eligible – they may think they have too much income, have savings or own their own home. There does also appear to be a secondary barrier around perceived stigma. Further details are available in the 2012 Research report Pension Credit eligible non-recipients: Barriers to claiming. Pension Credit eligible non-recipients: Barriers to claiming (publishing.service.gov.uk)

That is why one of the main objectives of our Pension Credit awareness campaign has been to dispel the myths around perceived ineligibility. Our messaging has also emphasised that even a small award of Pension Credit can open the door to a range of other financial support, including help with rent, Council Tax and heating costs, a free TV licence for those 75 or over and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.

It is also now more important than ever before to ensure that eligible pensioners claim Pension Credit, because a successful claim also qualifies them for the Cost of Living payments. That’s why the work to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up is ongoing.