Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of inflation on pensioners in (a) Coventry North East constituency and (b) Coventry.

The Secretary of State announced on 17 November that State Pensions and benefits will be up-rated from April 2023 by 10.1%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022, subject to parliamentary approval.

The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why, in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost of living pressures in 2022/23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24.

Over 8 million UK households on eligible means tested benefits, including those on Pension Credit, will receive additional Cost of Living Payments totalling up to £900 in the 2023/24 financial year.

In addition, eight million pensioner households will receive a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top-up to their winter fuel payment, and pensioners in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will receive the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Specific statistics relating to cost-of-living payments are not available. However, the latest published Pension Credit figures (May 2022) show there were 2,883 claimants in Coventry North East and 7,152 claimants in Coventry. The latest available winter fuel payment statistics (2021/22) show 14,352 customers in Coventry North East and 46,614 customers in Coventry received a winter fuel payment.