8. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on poverty amongst older people in Wales of eligible pensioners not applying for pension credit? OQ61579

Receiving pension credit is the key for many older people in Wales to unlock further entitlements. Age UK recently estimated that 56,100 people in Wales are eligible but they're not claiming pension credit. Through collaborative work with the UK Government and our partners, we're increasing pension credit take-up in Wales.

First Minister, despite what your party colleagues here might say to defend the cruel Labour policy to end universal winter fuel allowance, I believe that we all know that this policy is a bad one that has caused widespread fear amongst a very vulnerable group. We can also predict that its most likely impact will be to push a great number of elderly people into poverty. As you have just mentioned, we've known for some time that many welfare entitlements are unclaimed in Wales, and a great deal of poverty could be alleviated if these were accessed. Therefore, First Minister, what proposals do you have to identify every pensioner in Wales entitled to pension credit and ensure that they have every available assistance in applying? Thank you.  

Thanks very much. What we know is that the very poorest pensioners will continue to be supported, but we also know that the pension credit is the gateway for unlocking that financial support. That's why, in Welsh Government, we've got a long-standing commitment to make sure that people claim what is theirs, and I'm very grateful to my colleague Jane Hutt for all the strenuous efforts she's made to make sure that people are aware of that. And the very fact that we've been working with the Department for Work and Pensions, with the UK Government, to drive up the number of people claiming—. We've seen a 115 per cent increase in pension credit claims in the past five weeks, compared to the five weeks before 29 July. So, it is helping, the fact that people are aware of it. There's a lot of information out there, in doctors' surgeries, in lots of other places, and it is important that those people who are entitled to it actually take up that opportunity.

I thank the First Minister.