As many as 800,000 pensioner households are going without Pension Credit despite being eligible and a simple change could 'make a massive difference', says former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb
A former government minister has argued that providing "automatic" access to Pension Credit is critical for Britain's poorest pensioners to prevent a crisis with their bills. As it stands, up to 800,000 pensioner households are not receiving Pension Credit, despite being eligible.
Sir Steve Webb, the ex-pensions minister and Liberal Democrat MP, has suggested an amendment to official paperwork which could greatly increase Pension Credit uptake by ensuring automatic enrolment for those who qualify. Sir Steve is urging the Department for Work and Pensions to collaborate with local councils and add a new checkbox on authority forms aiding low-income individuals, which would directly initiate a Pension Credit claim.
Sir Steve, currently a partner at financial services firm LCP, suggested: "If the DWP got councils to put a tick box on housing benefit and council tax support forms, a box that said, 'I would like to be assessed for pension credit as well', then there's no need to make them jump through hoops again. It should be automatic and systematic." Sir Steve further added. "It's the DWP's job to change the system.
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