To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any steps his Department is taking to support older people during the application process for (i) Pension Credit; and (ii) Attendance Allowance.

My Department has a number of measures in place to support older people who require help to make an application for Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. These include:

A choice of channels for making an application - online, by phone, or by post for Pension Credit and online or by post for Attendance Allowance;

The availability of an online Pension Credit calculator which provides an opportunity to check potential eligibility;

Assistance from Pension Credit telephony agents who will guide customers or a nominated representative through a telephone application, advise about eligibility and evidence requirements, and signpost to other benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, State Pension, and Housing Benefit; and

Assistance from the Disability & Carers Service by telephone or email for those seeking advice, including a customer’s nominated representative, about making an Attendance Allowance application

In addition, further assistance is available from the Department’s Make the Call service who can visit the customer to provide benefit advice and assistance with application form completion if required.