DWP 'looking at' changing 243-question application form for one benefit

A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) form pensioners must fill out for a £300 Winter Fuel Allowance is being looked at amid fears it is too complicated and confusing. Pensioners face having to fill in a 243-question application to claim DWP Pension Credit.

Pensions minister Emma Reynolds acknowledged the application process was “very long” on Monday (November 11) in the Commons. She also promised to clear the Pension Credit backlog “before older people start having to make the choice between heating and eating”.

Taking questions in the Commons on Monday, Ms Reynolds told the House: “We are looking at the form. Ninety percent of applicants now apply online but we know that the paper form is very long and we’re looking to see what we can do to simplify it.”

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David Burton-Sampson, the Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, had asked: “What steps is (Ms Reynolds) taking to ensure claiming for pension credit is as simple as possible?” Ms Reynolds told MPs: “The Government remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners. We urge pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit to ensure as many people as possible have access to the support which they are entitled to.”

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, claimed the Department for Work and Pensions was “delaying releasing any more data” on pension credit applications.She said: “I’m concerned that the Government knows it will not be able to process these applications on time and that this information is not being put into the public domain.

“So will the minister be able to tell me exactly how many pension credit applications have been submitted since September 16, and if the backlog will be cleared before older people start having to make the choice between heating and eating?”

Ms Reynolds replied: “I gently say to her we are not delaying the publication of statistics and there will be a new set of statistics which will be published soon.” The minister had earlier said that “the department does not have a pension credit application target” but noted the Government had received around 74,400 pension credit claims in the eight weeks from the end of July to mid-September.