Written question asked by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru) on Wednesday, 22 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 November 2000. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 27 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what steps the Government is taking to ensure an increase in the take up of pensioner benefits.

Answer: Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps the Government are taking to ensure an increase in the take up of pensioner benefits. [140523] Mr. Rooker: We are examining a numbers of measures, which will reduce the complexity of the current system and encourage pensioners to claim their correct entitlement. As a first step we have launched an intensive national campaign to increase take-up of the minimum income guarantee. The campaign started on 30 May and includes: data matched screening to identify those pensioners most likely to be entitled and using this information writing to over two million pensioners to encourage a claim; a national high profile TV advertising campaign headed by Dame Thora Hird and, as a focal point for the programme, a national minimum income guarantee Teleclaims centre allowing pensioners to make a claim without leaving their home.

Secondary information