Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time for a Pension Credit application was in the latest period for which data is available; and whether she has taken steps to improve that processing time.

The most recent information on processing times for Pension Credit was published in the DWP Annual Report and Accounts published on 22^nd July 2024 (link to ARA 23/24). This shows that in 2023/24 DWP cleared 192,000 Pension Credit claims within the planned 50 working day timescale, equating to 77.7%. The department has secured funding for additional staffing to improve processing times.