MPs to hear first evidence of pensioner poverty inquiry

• Watch live on Parliamentlive.tv
• Inquiry: Pensioner Poverty: challenges and mitigations
• Work and Pensions Committee

Among other areas likely to be explored are 

• the drivers of, and trends in, pensioner poverty; 
• the adequacy of the State Pension and the effectiveness of more targeted support; 
• the impact of Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) eligibility changes; and 
• how to boost Pension Credit take up to qualify for WFP. 

The evidence session is the first of the Committee’s Pensioner poverty: challenges and mitigations inquiry. The inquiry was launched in November after Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the Committee that the next phase of the Government’s pensions review would “be looking at future outcomes, including pension adequacy.”  

Meanwhile, Government estimates sent to the Committee revealed that around an extra 50,000 pensioners could be exposed to hardship following the tightening of the Winter Fuel Payment, raising the questions over the adequacy of pension-age benefits more broadly. Only those eligible for Pension Credit or specified other means-tested benefits will now be eligible for the formally universal payment to pensioners.  

In the Committee’s last session, Ms Kendall said that applications for Pension Credit had jumped 152% but added the Government has to find a way to tackle the historically low take-up of the support package by pensioners.  

Witnesses 

Panel 1 from 09.30am: 

• Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director, Institute of Fiscal Studies 

• Peter Matejic, Chief Analyst, Joseph Rowntree Foundation 

• Daniela Silcock, Independent Research Consultant 
• Dr Carole Easton, CEO, Centre for Ageing Better 

Panel 2 from 10.30 (approx.) 

• Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing, Independent Age 

• Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director, Age UK 

• Adam Stachura, Associate Director, Age Scotland 

• Jonathan Safir, National Administration and Information Manager, National Pensions’ Convention 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
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