Stuart Anderson MP has refreshed his campaign to boost Pension Credit take-up, after it emerged that the government has failed to hit its own recruitment targets. It follows the decision to strip Winter Fuel Payments from eleven million pensioners who are not in receipt of a means-tested benefit like Pension Credit.
Following the restriction in support announced last July, Stuart secured commitments from Ministers to ensure that everyone eligible for Pension Credit is supported to access it. Yet the latest figures show that hundreds of thousands of low-income pensioners are still missing out on the vital support.
Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 27th February 2025 show that applications for Pension Credit have increased by 81% since the cuts were announced by the Chancellor on 29th July, just weeks after coming into office.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall MP said "I’m delighted we’ve been able to reach so many pensioners who need to be on Pension Credit, which can be a lifeline to so many on low incomes."
However, Stuart added that the spike in applications has been driven by the restriction of Winter Fuel Payments. The tax-free payments had helped 11.4 million vulnerable and elderly people with the costs of heating their homes during the winter including almost 25,000 in South Shropshire.
A survey conducted by Stuart between September 2024 and January 2025 received 136 responses and found that nine in ten people opposed the cuts to Winter Fuel Payments - with almost two-thirds of respondents having been in receipt of the support.
Stuart has now renewed his call for constituents across South Shropshire to check whether they or anyone they know is eligible for Pension Credit. After feedback, Ministers have agreed to simplify the online application form - which now takes just 16 minutes to complete. Claims can also be backdated for up to three months.
Pension Credit unlocks support worth up to £4,300. It not only tops up retirement income, but opens the door to a range of other support - including help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills, a free TV licence for those 75 or over, and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses, and transport costs for hospital appointments.
The DWP has received more than 235,000 applications since the announcement July. However, 33,700 claims are still to be processed. Coupled with long waiting times, Stuart has said that this amounts to a "huge failure" by the government, which will affect some of the most vulnerable people.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"After cruelly cutting Winter Fuel Payments for thousands of pensioners across South Shropshire, Ministers assured me that they would ensure everyone eligible for Pension Credit is supported to access it. However, the latest figures reveal that 33,000 claims across the country are still waiting in the queue to be considered. This is a huge failure by the government and lets down so many pensioners who have faced hikes in their energy bills by almost £300 since July. So, I have called on Ministers to ensure claims are considered expeditiously. In the meantime, I encourage everyone eligible to apply for the range of support available via Pension Credit."
To apply for Pension Credit or check if you are eligible, you can apply online, call the Freephone Pension Credit Claim Line on 0800 99 1234, or print out the form available at www.gov.uk/pension-credit/print.
