Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, has once again raised concerns about the impact that delays to Pension Credit processing times are having on pensioners who had their Winter Fuel Payment taken away from them following the Government’s decision to restrict the valuable support.

In response to Dr Evans’s written question the Pensions Minister, Torsten Bell, wrote “the latest Average Actual Clearance Time is now down to 56 working days in week commencing 3 February 2025 after a peak of 87 working days week commencing 9 December 2024. However, Pension Credit is a complex benefit, and some claims require additional investigation or information from the customer, which can result in longer processing times.”

Last year the Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for processing Pension Credit applications, seconded an additional 500 members of staff from different Departments to help process Pension Credit applications following the Government’s shock decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments in July 2024.

Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Hinckley and Bosworth, said “Last year this Labour Government cut Winter Fuel Payments from some of our most vulnerable pensioners without having any real plan to deal with the subsequent high volume of Pension Credit applications, forcing people to wait up to four months to find out whether they would receive the support they are entitled to.

“By restricting the Winter Fuel Payments so widely – when the Government’s own analysis shows these changes will push around 100,000 people into poverty – our pensioners have been left in limbo throughout a cold winter.

“It was bad enough that Labour chose to attack pensioners, but what is worse is the fact that their solution - to encourage people to apply for Pension Credit - is riddled with delays. This all takes place against the backdrop of a cold winter and further rising energy prices. It simply isn't good enough. 

"The Government has been in power for eight months and this was their policy, their choice. Labour Ministers must get a grip to ensure that every eligible pensioner receives the help they’re entitled to. No one should be left struggling to stay warm."

Helen Whately, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, added “Not only have 10 million pensioners lost their winter fuel payments due to Labour cuts: even those who are still eligible have had to wait weeks and weeks to receive any money. 

“It’s nearly March and there are still pensioners who applied for Pension credit in December waiting to hear whether they will get help. 

“Government incompetence like this is simply cruel”