Written questions by Osamor.

Whether there have been any further considerations over the uprating of frozen pensions for UK citizens abroad.

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating. The policy on uprating UK State Pension paid overseas is a longstanding one and has been in place for over 70 years. Over many years, priority has been given to those living in the United Kingdom when drawing up expenditure plans for additional pensioner benefits.

What plans his Department has to review the treatment of assumed and notional income in Universal Credit calculations for self‑employed claimants.

The Department routinely keeps its policies under review and we are always interested in views from customers and stakeholders. The current review of Universal Credit is looking closely at how the benefit supports self-employed people.

If he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Independent Age entitled Jumping Through Hoops, published on 4 March 2025.

The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. From the end of this Parliament, as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, spending on State Pensions is forecast to be around £34 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £2,100. We have revived the Pensions Commission which will consider the broader questions of adequacy, fairness, and sustainability to guide the long-term future of our pensions system. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving. Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. And we are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. Looking ahead, aligning the administration of Pension Credit with pensioner Housing Benefit will help ensure that more pensioners receive the financial support they are entitled to. The Department keeps policies and processes under regular review, including monitoring poverty through annual statistics and research into retirement planning, as well as considering the contributions of stakeholders such as the reports by Independent Age and others.

If he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Independent Age entitled Too Little Too Late, published on 15 May 2025.

The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. From the end of this Parliament, as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, spending on State Pensions is forecast to be around £34 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £2,100. We have revived the Pensions Commission which will consider the broader questions of adequacy, fairness, and sustainability to guide the long-term future of our pensions system. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving. Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. And we are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. Looking ahead, aligning the administration of Pension Credit with pensioner Housing Benefit will help ensure that more pensioners receive the financial support they are entitled to. The Department keeps policies and processes under regular review, including monitoring poverty through annual statistics and research into retirement planning, as well as considering the contributions of stakeholders such as the reports by Independent Age and others.

What steps he is taking to increase take up of Pension Credit in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill constituency.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all pensioners receive the support to which they are entitled. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends through adverts on television and radio; on social media and on digital screens in GP surgeries and Post Offices, as well as in the press. The latest burst of the campaign began in September, and further promotional activity is planned until the end of the financial year. We have also engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Enfield Council, through regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins on GOV.UK and targeted email communications. Councils have actively supported the campaign by promoting it on social media and distributing promotional materials, including posters and leaflets. We are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. In September, the Department conducted a trial in partnership with Age UK and Independent Age targeting 2,000 households in England identified using HMRC and DWP data.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of children in households impacted by No Recourse to Public Funds living in poverty.

No such estimate has been made. In developing a Child Poverty Strategy, the Taskforce is considering all children across the United Kingdom.

Whether she plans to negotiate reciprocal social security agreements with countries where UK pensioners do not receive annual state pension uprating.

The Department has no plans to negotiate such reciprocal social security agreements.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending eligibility to the Winter Fuel Payment to households in receipt of Housing Benefit on pensioner poverty.

The Government wants to expand eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments, recognising the goals of supporting these pensioners, meeting need and of sustainable public finances. Any change will be announced to Parliament in the normal way.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she will publish (a) an updated version of her Department's report entitled Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts, updated on 28 March 2025, (b) a full impact assessment of the proposed reforms to disability benefits in light of that report.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab). A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. Where relevant, findings included in the report Triggers to claiming Personal Independence Payment - GOV.UK, as well as the numerous other pieces of research and analysis commissioned or undertaken by the Department, have been factored into the impacts analysis already published, and will also feed into future analytical work.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she plans to revise the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments in light of that report.

This government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and giving everyone a better future, and that is at the heart of our welfare reforms. We are ensuring that our welfare state is there for people who need it now, and can be there for those who need it long into the future too. Our intention is that the PIP changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026. This means there will be no immediate changes, and we are consulting on how best to support those impacted by the new eligibility changes. The changes to PIP will help better target support towards those with the highest needs. This includes introducing a new requirement that, in addition to existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score at least four points in one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP. We have launched a review of the PIP assessment to ensure it is fair and fit for the future and we are working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled A Clean Start in Life, published by In Kind Direct on 2 May 2025.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. The Strategy will tackle overall child poverty as well as going beyond that to focus on children in deepest poverty lacking essentials, and what is needed to give every child the best start in life. We are focused on reducing and alleviating the effects of child poverty to improve children’s lives and life chances now and tackle the root causes of child poverty in the long term. The Strategy will look at four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, introduce a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions from Universal Credit, improve the adequacy of the standard allowance with the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced and increase the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour to boost the pay of three million workers. To further support struggling households, we have provided funding of £742 million to extend the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 in England, plus additional funding for the Devolved Governments.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the take up of means-tested benefits among households with children in poverty.

The Department provides extensive information on Universal Credit including on GOV.UK that supports customers to identify what support may be available. Additionally, we signpost potential customers to external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support by phone and on-line for customers to apply for Universal Credit. Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government. The Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy looking at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Paying the Price of Child Poverty, published by Action for Children on 19 March 2025.

This Government values the insights provided by Action for Children and their recommendations have been noted.The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. The Strategy will look at four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication. The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, introduce a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions from Universal Credit, improve the adequacy of the standard allowance with the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced and increase the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour to boost the pay of three million workers.

Whether she plans to negotiate a reciprocal social security agreement with Taiwan.

There are no current plans to negotiate a reciprocal social security agreement with Taiwan.

What recent progress the Child Poverty Taskforce has made on developing strategies to help reduce child poverty.

Tackling the terrible state of child poverty in this country is our priority every day and the Taskforce is looking at every lever we can pull across Government to do this.The Taskforce has already heard from charities, experts and families and will publish its strategy in the Spring.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending access to benefits for families with children who have no recourse to public funds on levels of child poverty.

In developing a Child Poverty Strategy, the Child Poverty Taskforce is considering all children across the United Kingdom. We recognise the distinct challenges of poverty faced by migrant children. The causes of child poverty are deep-rooted, with solutions that go beyond government, and the Taskforce is exploring all available levers in response. The Home Office sets the immigration rules and grants immigration leave to individuals which allows them to live and work in the UK. DWP cannot pay public funds benefits to individuals where the Home Office has applied a ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition to their immigration status.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the taper rate for housing benefit on young people in supported housing.

The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. Notwithstanding these positive outcomes from work, the Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit and will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of maternity pay for mothers of (a) twins and (b) other multiples.

Maternity pay is primarily a health and safety provisions for pregnant working women. It is not intended to replace a woman's earnings completely, rather it provides a measure of financial security to help pregnant working women take time off work in the later stages of their pregnancy and in the months following childbirth. We want new mothers to be able to take time away from work. Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance rates are reviewed annually and were raised again by 6.7% in April from £172.48 to £184.03. Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance are not paid in respect of each child but in respect of each pregnancy. The qualifying conditions for both are generally based on a woman's recent employment and earnings. They are not intended to assist with the costs associated with the birth of a new child or children.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Gingerbread’s report entitled They are sanctioning the children, published on 16 September 2024.

The Child Poverty Taskforce will explore how we can harness all available levers to reduce child poverty, including by listening to stakeholders on potential changes, before publishing a strategy in Spring 2025. Additionally, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.