Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to provide support for pensioners who experience fuel poverty in autumn 2022 in the context of rising energy costs.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges. The government is providing over £15 billion in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. This package is in addition to the over £22 billion announced previously, with Government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37 billion this year.

This includes a £650 cost of living payment (paid in 2 lump sums of £326 and £324) which has been designed to target support at more than 8 million low-income households on means-tested benefits including Pension Credit. In addition, pensioner households will receive a one-off payment of £300 through and as an addition to the Winter Fuel Payment from November and 6 million eligible disabled people will receive a one-off disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20 September

Most customers with a domestic electricity meter will benefit from the £400 support being provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which will help around 29 million households across Great Britain. This support is in addition to the £150 Council Tax rebate for households in England in Council Tax bands A-D, which was announced in February, and which millions of households have already received.

Cold Weather Payments are also available to help vulnerable people in receipt of certain income-related benefits in England and Wales to meet additional heating costs, during periods of unseasonably cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. This includes older people in receipt of Pension Credit. Those eligible will continue to automatically receive £25 when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days.

In winter 2022/23, the Warm Home Discount Scheme has been extended to provide a £150 rebate on energy bills to around 3 million households. Around one million households on Pension Credit guarantee credit will receive a rebate each winter, and the majority will receive their rebate automatically, without the need to claim.