Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
First Report - Cost of Living Support Payments
Work and Pensions Committee
HC 143
Published 14 November 2023
Recommendations
8
Accepted
Maintain Household Support Fund, improve communication and application accessibility for vulnerable groups.
Recommendation
If the Government continues to issue cost of living support payments in the next financial year, it should maintain the Household Support Fund as it is an important safety net for those ineligible for these payments and other means tested …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the Household Support Fund (HSF) is under review for future years and highlights existing measures, such as local authorities being required to provide application-based schemes and comply with the Equality Act to ensure accessible advertising and support.
Department for Work and Pensions
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11
Accepted
Para 67
Devise and implement policy addressing unfairness for low-income pensioners missing Pension Credit.
Recommendation
We commend the Government’s efforts to promote Pension Credit to those entitled to it, though there is still more to do to increase take-up as we remarked on in our July 2022 Cost of Living report. We remain concerned that …
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Government Response Summary
The government describes its ongoing substantial nationwide campaign to promote Pension Credit to those eligible but states its immediate focus remains on encouraging eligible individuals to claim it, without committing to a new policy for those who just miss out.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Conclusions (3)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 17
We welcome the automated nature of the payment system, which enabled the swift issue of cash support to many of those most in need. However, we recognise that it is limited in its ability to target payments and therefore meet the additional needs of certain groups.
Government Response Summary
The government defends its existing automated payment system as quick and effective, highlighting millions of payments made, annual benefit upratings, and existing targeted payments for disabled people and pensioners.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 25
We are concerned by the cliff edge nature of the cost of living payments which creates a fundamentally unfair income gap where a person is financially penalised for earning just over the qualifying threshold, being in receipt of a sanction or not receiving an eligible payment during the qualifying period. …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the cliff-edge issue but states that delivering payments in three separate instalments reduces the chance of missing out, and highlights the flexible Household Support Fund as an alternative for those ineligible.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 41
The Household Support Fund has enabled the provision of support to vulnerable households who are not eligible for the cost of living support payments or for whom the payments are not sufficient. However, we are concerned by the uneven nature of support offered by the Household Support Fund which can …
Government Response Summary
The government defends the Household Support Fund's flexible design, stating it allows local authorities to respond to local need, and highlights current efforts like an Awareness Week, leaflets, and knowledge-sharing events to improve communication and accessibility.