Helping low-income pensioners is a top priority. The last Labour Government halved pensioner poverty from its mid-1990s peak, and I am determined to build on that legacy. Everyone in society deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement, which is why I support maintaining the triple lock policy.

This means that the State Pension will continue to increase each year by the highest of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%. I welcome that, thanks to the triple lock, the State Pension has increased by 4.1% from April 2025. It will increase by a further £575 this year and, by the end of this Parliament, annual spending on the State Pension is forecast to be £34 billion higher than in 2024-2025.

I share your concerns about pensioners who may not be receiving all the support they are entitled to. Many eligible people still miss out on Pension Credit, which provides vital extra help. That is why the UK Government launched the largest-ever Pension Credit take-up campaign shortly after taking office. These efforts have already resulted in 60,000 more awards, and they will continue over the coming months.

Importantly, receiving Pension Credit opens the door to a range of other financial assistance, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax support, help with NHS costs, assistance with fuel bills, and a free TV licence for those aged over 75. To guarantee even greater uptake in future, the administration of Pension Credit and pensioner Housing Benefit will be merged for new claimants.

To help with bills, all pensioners with incomes up to £35,000, as well as those on Pension Credit and income-related benefits, are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. The payment is made automatically, so no one needs to take any action to receive it. On top of this, the recent Budget included measures designed to address the cost of living. Because of these changes, every household will see cuts to their bills of around £150 per year. The Warm Home Discount also provides an additional £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain, and I am glad that this scheme has been expanded to reach 2.7 million extra households. This will make a real difference.

The Welsh Government is also working to deliver on this issue. The Warm Homes Nest scheme aims to reduce the number of low-income households living in cold, damp homes. This will decarbonise and insulate homes, lowering energy bills and moving people out of fuel poverty. I know Welsh Ministers have called on Ofgem to introduce a social tariff to protect vulnerable people. Free energy savings advice is also available to all Welsh households.

We must make sure people receive the support they deserve, and I welcome that the Welsh Claim What’s Yours campaign has helped more than 36,800 people claim £10.4 million in additional income, while a record number of people have been awarded Pension Credit thanks to the UK Government’s uptake campaign. This initiative is especially relevant as it will direct the most vulnerable pensioners towards other benefits – including Winter Fuel Payments.
Kind regards,

Anna Anna McMorrin MP Member of Parliament for Cardiff North  |  Aelod Seneddol Gogledd Caerdydd    2 Codas House, 52-60 Merthyr Road, Cardiff | Caerdydd, CF14 1DJ
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