PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(3 September 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of a national take up strategy for later life entitlements, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

Asked by:
Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat)

The Government is committed to supporting pensioners and ensuring they receive the financial support to which they are entitled. Maximising Pension Credit take-up is a key priority, as Pension Credit provides a vital financial safety net for pensioners on low incomes and can also act as a gateway to a range of additional support.

We have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign across Great Britain. We are building on that with our new autumn campaign which will launch in October 2026, urging pensioners and their families to check their eligibility and make a claim. We are also taking a range of further actions to increase Pension Credit take-up, including targeted communications, partnership working and close engagement with councils, both directly and through Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins.

We are also using data and targeted approaches to identify potentially eligible households and encourage claims. These activities help pensioners access the wider support available to them, including Housing Benefit and, where applicable, Council Tax Reduction.

Housing Benefit continues to support pensioners who rent, while pensioner homeowners on income-related benefits, including Pension Credit, may receive Support for Mortgage Interest to help with interest on eligible secured loans.

Answered by:
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