Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to offer support to pensioners in Portsmouth South constituency who are in poverty and (a) disabled, (b) single women, and (c) over 85.

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 State Pension is the foundation of support for older people, providing the basis on which people can build additional private savings for their retirement. Under this Government, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is now over £2,300 higher than in 2010. From April 2023, this will rise to over £3,000.

There are currently around 1.4m pensioners claiming some £5bn of Pension Credit, which tops up their retirement income providing invaluable financial support for the poorest pensioners, and which is a passport to a range of other benefits. The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee (SMG) will be increase by 10.1%, subject to parliamentary approval, reflecting the Government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable pensioners at this time of high inflation. For single pensioners, the SMG will increase to £201.05 a week; for couples it will increase to £306.85 a week.

Attendance Allowance is intended to help those with a severe disability who have long term care or supervision needs where those needs arise after reaching State Pension age. Entitlement to Attendance Allowance is based on the on-going need for frequent personal care and attention, or supervision to ensure personal safety, rather than on the individual’s medical condition. Those getting the higher rate are receiving around £4800 a year, tax free, which can be paid in addition to other support a pensioner may receive such as the State Pension and Pension Credit.

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.

The 1.4 million pensioner households currently in receipt of Pension Credit may receive the Cost of Living Payment for those on income-related benefits 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, and pensioners in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will receive the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Specific statistics relating to the Pensioner Cost of Living Payments are not available. However, the latest available winter fuel payment statistics (2021/22) show that 12,864 customers in Portsmouth South received a winter fuel payment. We expect a similar number of customers will receive the Pensioner Cost of Living Payments in 2022/23 and 2023/24.