Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to protect single, female pensioners who believe they were given inadequate notice of State Pension age changes during the winter months.

This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it, including when they near or reach retirement. Support is available to those who are unable to work or are on a low income but are not eligible to pensioner benefits because of their age. Support is also available to those who are on a low income but have reached State Pension age.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. That is why the government is providing over £15bn in further support targeted particularly on those with the greatest need.

This package is in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year. This means that eight million low-income households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.  The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year.