Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of Age UK's Equality Impact Assessment on the Winter Fuel Payment.

An equality analysis was produced as part of Ministerial decision making in line with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty. This was published on 13^th September. By convention, such analyses are not published alongside secondary legislation. However, in view of the close public interest in this issue Ministers decided, exceptionally, to publish in this case.

Our commitment to the Triple Lock means that both the basic and new State Pensions will increase in line with the highest of earnings growth, price inflation or 2.5% in each year of this Parliament. This will benefit over 12 million pensioners.

We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them.

Since September the Department has been running a campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit. This national marketing campaign is running on a range of channels, including national and local print media and radio. The campaign also highlights that a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit made by 21 December will also qualify a pensioner for a Winter Fuel Payment, as long as they satisfy the other eligibility criteria.

The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.  An additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their electricity bill. This winter, we expect over three million households, including over one million pensioners, to benefit under the scheme.