Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to take steps to help low income pensioners with the cost of living.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living which is why we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with their rising bills.

Over 8 million pensioner households will receive a £300 pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top up to their winter fuel payment increasing payments to £500 for those aged 66-79 and £600 for those aged 80 and over.

In addition, households in receipt of Pension Credit will be entitled to get up to £900 in means-tested Cost of Living Payments across the 2023/24 financial year.

We continue to maximise opportunities to raise awareness of Pension Credit, including highlighting that there is still time to apply for Pension Credit by the 10 December and be eligible for £300 cost of living payment thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules.

The Government has also just announced that from April 2024, the basic and new State Pensions as well as the Standard Minimum Guarantee in Pension Credit will be increased by 8.5%.