Question reference: S6W-17689
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 4 May 2023
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered what action can be taken to increase take-up of pension credit amongst older people who are living on a low-income in Scotland.
Answer
Pension Credit is reserved to the UK Government, therefore any take-up campaigns should be UK Government led.
However, in 2023-24 we will allocate at least £11 million to support the provision of free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice. This includes funding for the Money Talk Team Income Maximisation Service delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland, and the expansion of Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships to place Welfare Rights Advisors in up to 180 GP surgeries in Scotland’s most deprived areas.
Such Scottish Government funded services provide personalised advice on a wide range of support available to people in Scotland – including UK benefits such as Pension Credit, Scottish benefits, local authority payments, and wider support.