Written questions, answers and statements

Pensioners: Poverty

Show full question

Question for Department for Work and Pensions

UIN 200547, tabled on 10 December 2018

Question

Mr Jim Cunningham
Labour
Coventry South
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the welfare system in helping to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty.

Answer

Guy Opperman
Conservative
Hexham
Commons

Answered on

13 December 2018

We have reduced pensioner poverty close to historically low levels, lifting the incomes of millions of older people. Since 2009/10, material deprivation for pensioners has fallen from 10 per cent to 7 per cent in 2016/17 and since 2010 there are 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty, a record low.

The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £97 billion on the State Pension for this year.

Answered by

Department for Work and Pensions
Named day
Named day questions only occur in the House of Commons. The MP tabling the question specifies the date on which they should receive an answer. MPs may not table more than five named day questions on a single day.