The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of withholding vital claimant data, leaving low-income households without access to financial support. Consumer rights campaigners raised concerns during a Work and Pensions Committee hearing, highlighting that the department's failure to share data with local councils is making many pensioners 'invisible'.
Fabian Chessell, central government lead at Policy in Practice, told MPs that the DWP withholds data on 60 per cent of Universal Credit households from councils. He warned that this trend could be repeated for Housing Benefit, potentially making a large number of pensioners invisible to local authorities and preventing them from receiving support such as the Household Support Fund.
Mr Chessell focused on the transition from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, noting a key 17-week window for early applications. He argued that the DWP should collaborate better with councils to ensure those nearing state pension age submit their Pension Credit applications early, avoiding gaps in income for already low-income individuals.
The DWP has rejected the claim that it is withholding data, stating that it has been sharing Universal Credit data with local authorities since 2013 in line with data protection requirements. A spokesperson said the department is developing a new data sharing system that will give councils access to Universal Credit claimant data for all residents in their area.
