The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to meet its 50-day target for nine consecutive weeks between October and December last year, peaking at an average of 87 days in mid-December, according to figures from the department obtained by wealth manager Quilter and shared exclusively with The i Paper.
The delays coincided with a substantial surge in applications after the Government announced it would means-test the winter fuel payment, restricting eligibility to those in receipt of pension credit or other benefits.
Pension credit is a benefit designed for people over state pension age who are on a low income.
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The benefit has been widely under-claimed in the past, with Government estimates suggesting around 800,000 eligible people were not claiming it last year.
“I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners,” Starmer said at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, .
However, no further details have been given.
According to DWP data, around 235,000 pension credit claims were received between 29 July, 2024 and 23 February, 2025, an 81 per cent increase on the same period the year before, as pensioners rushed to qualify for last year’s winter fuel payment.
Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter, said: “It’s encouraging that awareness of pension credit is increasing, but the system must be equipped to manage the consequences of policy decisions.
“The Government’s aim to better target assistance is understandable, but the administrative infrastructure has failed to keep pace. As a result, some of the most vulnerable may have been left out in the cold, quite literally.”
The DWP has been contacted for comment.
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