New DWP update on future plans to means-test State Pension payments
dailyrecord.co.ukFollowing on from the Labour Government’s announcement that over 10 million older people who are not receiving income-related benefits such as Pension Credit will no longer qualify for Winter Fuel Payments of up to £300, speculation has been growing that the State Pension could be means-tested in the future.
However, a former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) employee with over 42 years experience dealing with State Pensions and benefits has received an official response from the Pensions Minister clarifying the Government’s stance on the subject.
Sandra Wrench from Bedford wrote a nine-page letter to the DWP in July - submitted through her local MP, Mohammad Yasin - expressing her concern over the prospect of means-testing the State Pension and explained why the UK Government would face “great difficulty” implementing such a massive policy change due to the complexity of the contributory benefit.
Responding to the ex-DWP employee’s concerns last month, Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds confirmed that the UK Government “have no plans” to means-test the State Pension.
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