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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are not receiving their pension credit entitlement in (a) Portsmouth and (b) England; and what steps his Department is taking to improve take-up. [155217] Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the form requested. However, we estimate that there are approximately 3.15 million pensioner households in England likely to be eligible for pension credit. The latest monthly pension credit progress report, published on 9 February, shows that at 31 January, approximately 1.82 million pensioner households in England were receiving pension credit. As at the same date, the numbers of households receiving pension credit in Portsmouth, North and Portsmouth South were 2,555 and 3,862 respectively. We are currently in the main phase of our marketing campaign for pension credit and aim to have at least 3 million households in receipt of pension credit by 2006. By June 2004, we will have written to all pensioner households, explaining about the new entitlement. Direct mail is being supported by extensive TV and press advertising. From May we intend to focus campaign activity on those pensioners who are likely to be entitled but who have not responded. The Pension Service local service is playing a key role, particularly in encouraging pensioners who are less likely to take up their entitlement to apply. We continue to work closely with organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern, at both national and local level, and with local authorities.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

155217; 418 c316-7W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Pension credit Publicity Recipients Take-up Portsmouth

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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