State Retirement Pensions

(asked on 25th February 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she plans to undertake to review the maximum limit of the value of the over 80 state pension.


Answered by
Guy Opperman Portrait
Guy Opperman
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This question was answered on 5th March 2019

The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £97 billion on the State Pension for this year. Between 2010 and 2018, we will have increased the basic State Pension by £1,450 a year.

The non-contributory Category D State Pension is available to those aged over 80 with either no entitlement to a basic State Pension or who are entitled to basic State Pension of less than £75.50 per week. Individuals must also meet the residency conditions. Category D State Pension is currently uprated in line with the Triple Lock. We are committed to the Triple Lock for the remainder of this Parliament guaranteeing that up to the full amounts of the basic and new State Pensions will rise by the highest of average earnings growth, price inflation, or 2.5% and in 2018/19 the increase was 3%. Between April 2010 and April 2018 the basic State Pension has risen by £660 a year more than if it had been just up-rated by earnings since April 2010. That is a rise of £1,450 a year in cash terms.

Additionally, the 25p age addition is paid with State Pension when individuals reach age 80. Although there are no plans to uprate the age addition amount, this should to be considered alongside the range of other measures and benefits that are available to pensioners, over age 80. This includes Pension Credit and the free television licence scheme. Moreover, people who are aged 80 and over receive a Winter Fuel Payment of £300, instead of the standard Winter Fuel Payment of £200 for pensioners below that age.

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