Pension credit applications soar but approvals remain low

Claims for pension recognition person soared by astir 150% since the Government announced plans to means trial the wintertime substance payment, figures show.

But conscionable 42,500 applications person been approved implicit the aforesaid play – little than 5% of the 880,000 radical the Government said were missing retired connected the payment successful July.

Some 150,000 applications for pension recognition person been submitted successful the 16 weeks since July 29, erstwhile Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced lone those receiving the payment would beryllium eligible for wintertime substance payments.

Ms Reeves said the determination would prevention astir £1.5 cardinal and was needed to assistance capable a £22 cardinal “black hole” successful the nationalist finances that Labour claims was near by the erstwhile Conservative government.

The summation represents a 145% emergence successful claims compared with the 16 weeks earlier the Chancellor’s announcement.

But the fig of approvals has risen by conscionable 17% implicit the aforesaid period, portion refusals astir doubled from 27,100 to 53,100.

The figures travel arsenic Britain endures a acold snap, with the Met Office having issuing acold wellness warnings for bluish England and the Midlands connected Tuesday.

The Government continues to impulse pensioners to cheque if they are eligible for pension credit.

Those who use earlier December 21 volition person backdated payments of some pension recognition and the wintertime substance allowance, and the Department for Work and Pensions has deployed 500 other unit to grip claims for the benefit.

Pensions curate Emma Reynolds said: “We’re pleased to spot much pensioners are present receiving pension recognition and our unit are processing claims arsenic rapidly arsenic possible.

“With December 21 approaching, my connection is clear: cheque if you are eligible for pension recognition and if you are past apply, arsenic it unlocks a scope of benefits including the wintertime substance payment.”

Since the Chancellor’s announcement, the Government has spent astir £250,000 connected advertizing relating to pension credit, a state of accusation petition by concern managers Quilter Cheviot has found.

Rosie Hooper, a chartered fiscal planner astatine the company, said the fig was “surprising… fixed the value of reaching those successful need”.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the figures were a “damning indictment of the Government’s nonaccomplishment to support pensioners this winter”.

She said: “Millions of susceptible pensioners are inactive acceptable to suffer their wintertime substance outgo conscionable arsenic the acold upwind bites.

“Ministers rushed done these unfair changes and present susceptible pensioners are acceptable to wage the price.

“We are present reaching the constituent of nary instrumentality for the Government to recognise their mistake, scrap this unfair chopped and debar older radical being forced to take betwixt heating and eating this winter.”