Work and Pensions - Third Report
Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 23 February 2005.
CONTENTS
Terms of Reference
Report Highlights
1 Introduction
2 Background
The Government's Strategy to tackle pensioner
poverty
Pension Credit
Pension Reform
3 The impact on
current pensioners
The Pension Credit and pensioner incomes
The Pension Credit and pensioner poverty
4 The Pension
Service
Setting up a service for pensioners
The performance of the Pension Service
Application forms
Accuracy of awards
Award letters
Information and advice
Dealing with errors and delays when they
occur
The Local Service
The Performance of the Local Service
Publicising the Local Service
Partnership working and benefit take-up
5 Efficiencies
Targets for staff reductions in the Pension
Service
The Pensions Transformation Programme
Phasing in of PTP
Can DWP meet its 2006 target without compromising
service delivery?
Can DWP meet its 2008 target without compromising
service delivery?
Planning and staff morale
Impact on the Local Service
Ensuring the quality of service is maintained
across the Pension Service
6 Take-up
The introduction of Pension Credit
Take-up by the poorest pensioners
Take-up of disability benefits
DWP's take-up strategy
Factors influencing take-up
Strategy to encourage take-up of Pension
Credit
Simplifying the System
Developing a holistic approach to take-up
Pensions Transformation Programme
The transfer from Income Support
The carer's addition
Local authority assessments of income and
capital
7 Direct Payment
The introduction of Direct Payment
The experience of Direct Payment
Opening a Post Office Card Account
Third-party collection
The Exceptions Service
8 Pension Credit
Policy Changes
Interaction with other benefits
Interaction of Pension Credit with local
authority care charging policies
Earnings disregard
Payment during a period of absence abroad
9 Women and Pensions
The reasons for women's low income in
retirement
Women and the state pension system
Savings Credit
10 The Future
11 Conclusion
Conclusions and recommendations
Annex A - Benefits for Pensioners
SERPS/State Second Pension
Disability and Carers Benefits
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Annex B - Details of Pension Centres
Annex C - Projected eligibility for Pension
Credit
Witnesses
Written Evidence
Formal Minutes
ORAL AND WRITTEN EVIDENCE - HC 43-II
Wednesday 3 November 2004
Wednesday 10 November 2004
Wednesday 24 November 2004
Thursday 2 December 2004
Wednesday 8 December 2004
Written Evidence
| 
