Thank you for contacting me about Government support for pensioners.
The Government is fully committed to enabling older people to live with the dignity and respect they deserve.
The Government has maintained the Triple Lock in full for 2024/25, meaning that the basic State Pension, new State Pension, and Pension Credit minimum guarantee have been uprated in line with September 2023 average earnings growth- 8.5 per cent.
Additionally, the Government is providing substantial support for pensioners through the welfare system.
In 2023-24, the Government spent over £152 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain - around 5.9 per cent of GDP. Additionally, the Government provides free bus passes and prescriptions; Winter Fuel Payments; and Cold Weather Payments for those in receipt of Pension Credit.
Moreover, as set out at the Spring Budget, the Government is providing an additional £500 million of funding to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England to September 2024, bringing the total funding to £3 billion since October 2021.
I know the Government is always looking at ways to maximise the number of people claiming Pension Credit. I support their commitment to ensuring that everybody claims their full entitlement.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been running an extensive communications campaign since April 2022 to boost uptake. The number of applications was up by around 75 per cent in the 12 months to May this year, compared with the same period last year, strongly indicating that the campaign is having a positive effect.
The DWP boosted their campaign with extensive television adverts which highlight that Pension Credit is worth £3,900 a year on average. The DWP also wrote to over 11 million pensioners last year alone, as part of the annual uprating of State Pensions.
If Islanders require further information on pension credit, please visit the following website: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.