AQW 21434/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 28/01/2025
Answered On Date: 20/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any measures his Department is taking to improve the uptake of Pension Credit.

Answer:

My Department undertakes a wide range of activities to promote Pension Credit uptake including: social media and broadcast campaigns; promotion work with age-based stakeholders; displaying information about Pension Credit in public spaces; provision of confidential benefit assessments and help to complete forms; and identifying potential Pension Credit entitlement when a person makes their State Retirement Pension claim.

In addition this year a letter issued to all pensioners advising them of the Winter Fuel Payment entitlement changes which signposted to Pension Credit. My Department also collaborated with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in issuing a letter to all older Housing Benefit recipients not already in receipt of Pension Credit, to make them aware of the benefit.

As a result of the Make the Call service, 1,634 people were helped to access over £6.6 million in Pension Credit in 2023/24