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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners in Coventry who have not applied for pension credit since its introduction; and what rationale underlay the decision to means-test applicants for pension credit. [223922] Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. As at 31 December 2005, there were 16,215 households (19,615 individuals) in the Coventry local authority area in receipt of pension credit. Information on numbers of households or individuals eligible for pension credit is not available at local authority or constituency level. This Government's priority when it came to office was to tackle the legacy of pensioner poverty. We continue to do this by targeting help on today's poorest pensioners and by encouraging all pensioners to receive the benefits they are entitled to. At the same time, the Government believes that empowering individuals to make real and informed choices about working and saving for retirement is fundamental if they are to make sure people get the income in retirement they expect. Pension credit rewards those who have worked hard to provide modest incomes for themselves in retirement. Income-testing of benefits has existed since before and after the creation of the Welfare State in 1948. With the introduction of pension credit, and the ease by which it can be applied for, we have moved away from the stigmatising weekly means tests of the past.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1256-7W;432 c1253-4W; 223922

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Pension credit Means-tested benefits Take-up Coventry

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk