The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is taking another look at a complex form that pensioners must complete to access the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance, amid concerns it's too intricate and bewildering. The cash benefit will only be available to older Brits claiming Pension Credit this year, but some will struggle with the more than 200 questions they have to answer when applying.
In the Commons on Monday, Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds conceded the process is "very long" while promising to resolve any backlog of Pension Credit applications before it forces seniors into tough decisions between heating and eating. There are still thousands of eligible pensioners missing out on this crucial benefit, which is worth an average of £3900 per claimant.
Addressing MPs' questions, Ms Reynolds told parliament: "We are looking at the form. Ninety percent of applicants now apply online but we know that the paper form is very long and we're looking to see what we can do to simplify it."
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She responded to David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, who questioned the measures being taken to make applying for pension credit simpler, by saying: "The Government remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners. We urge pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit to ensure as many people as possible have access to the support which they are entitled to."
Birmingham Live reports the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney, accused the Department for Work and Pensions of "delaying releasing any more data" on pension credit applications. Expressing her concerns, she said: "I'm concerned that the Government knows it will not be able to process these applications on time and that this information is not being put into the public domain."
In a piercing question to the minister, she asked: "So will the minister be able to tell me exactly how many pension credit applications have been submitted since September 16, and if the backlog will be cleared before older people start having to make the choice between heating and eating? " Responding to Ms. Olney, Ms Reynolds insisted: "I gently say to her we are not delaying the publication of statistics and there will be a new set of statistics which will be published soon."
Earlier, the minister had mentioned that "the department does not have a pension credit application target," yet acknowledged that the Government had indeed received approximately 74,400 pension credit applications during the eight weeks from the end of July to mid-September.
