Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 12 September 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-28925 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 August 2024, what steps it has taken to urge pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit and thereby be eligible for Winter Fuel Payment in the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency, in light of Independent Age's report that an estimated £3,436,244 in pension credit goes unclaimed annually.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone receives the benefits to which they are entitled. In 2024-25 we have invested over £12 million in free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice services – including £4.6 million for Citizens Advice Scotland’s Money Talk Team service, which last year supported over 9,000 older people, securing financial gains of over £7 million.
As Pension Credit is a reserved benefit the Scottish Government has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions urging that more is done to promote this benefit. We have also offered to work with the Department of Work and Pensions to improve take-up rates. This will include working with stakeholders across Scotland to increase awareness of Pension Credit and the link to eligibility for Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.