News story

15th July 2002

Pension Credit Amounts to Mass Means-Testing

Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the Government’s Spending Review, said:

“The Government’s proposals for the Pension Credit are eye-wateringly complex, and amount to mass means testing of pensioners.

“There is a huge potential for an extremely low take up, and the Government has already stated that a third of the 5.5 million people who would be entitled will not actually receive the new credit.

“The only way to ensure that pensioners receive the benefits to which they are entitled to is to raise the level of the basic state pension, particularly for older pensioners.”

ENDS