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| Iain Duncan Smith urges wealthy elderly to 'hand back' benefits | Iain Duncan Smith urges wealthy elderly to 'hand back' benefits |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Wealthy elderly people who do not need benefit payments to help with fuel bills or free travel should voluntarily return the money to the authorities, the work and pensions secretary says. | Wealthy elderly people who do not need benefit payments to help with fuel bills or free travel should voluntarily return the money to the authorities, the work and pensions secretary says. |
| Iain Duncan Smith told the Sunday Telegraph he would "encourage" people who do not need such financial support "to hand it back". | Iain Duncan Smith told the Sunday Telegraph he would "encourage" people who do not need such financial support "to hand it back". |
| But the decision whether or not to do so was up to them, he added. | But the decision whether or not to do so was up to them, he added. |
| The universal benefits include free TV licences for people aged over 75. | The universal benefits include free TV licences for people aged over 75. |
| Mr Duncan Smith said there were no plans to means test to exclude richer pensioners. | Mr Duncan Smith said there were no plans to means test to exclude richer pensioners. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has already said universal benefits for pensioners will be protected for almost a year after the 2015 general election. | Prime Minister David Cameron has already said universal benefits for pensioners will be protected for almost a year after the 2015 general election. |
| Mr Duncan Smith told the paper: "I have no idea what we will put into the manifesto... I have no indication of change. | Mr Duncan Smith told the paper: "I have no idea what we will put into the manifesto... I have no indication of change. |
| "It's fair to say that [pensioners] are more vulnerable than others and we need to be very careful about what and when we do things, if we ever do." | "It's fair to say that [pensioners] are more vulnerable than others and we need to be very careful about what and when we do things, if we ever do." |
| He also said the new universal credit - a payment that marks the biggest overhaul of the benefits system since the 1940s - was being implemented over four years because "I want to get these things right". | He also said the new universal credit - a payment that marks the biggest overhaul of the benefits system since the 1940s - was being implemented over four years because "I want to get these things right". |
| Of the new credit scheme, Mr Duncan Smith said: "We want to say to people, you're claiming unemployment benefit but you're actually in work paid for by the state: you're in work to find work. That's your job from now on: to find work." | Of the new credit scheme, Mr Duncan Smith said: "We want to say to people, you're claiming unemployment benefit but you're actually in work paid for by the state: you're in work to find work. That's your job from now on: to find work." |
| Gradual roll-out | Gradual roll-out |
| The universal benefit starts on a limited basis on Monday with new claimants, who are single, who live in a small number of postcode areas in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester. | The universal benefit starts on a limited basis on Monday with new claimants, who are single, who live in a small number of postcode areas in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester. |
| Trials in three more areas - Oldham, Wigan and Warrington - will begin in July. | Trials in three more areas - Oldham, Wigan and Warrington - will begin in July. |
| From October, more claimants will move on to universal credit as and when they have a significant change of circumstances, such as starting a new job or when a child is born. | From October, more claimants will move on to universal credit as and when they have a significant change of circumstances, such as starting a new job or when a child is born. |
| From April 2014 until October 2017, the rest of those affected in England, Scotland and Wales will be moved on to universal credit in stages. It will start in Northern Ireland from April 2014. | From April 2014 until October 2017, the rest of those affected in England, Scotland and Wales will be moved on to universal credit in stages. It will start in Northern Ireland from April 2014. |
| The winter fuel allowance provides between £100 and £300 tax-free to help people who have reached the state pension age with heating bills. | The winter fuel allowance provides between £100 and £300 tax-free to help people who have reached the state pension age with heating bills. |
| In past years millionaires such as entrepreneur Lord Sugar and nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow have complained that they have not been able to opt out of receiving the winter fuel allowance. | |
| Charity Age UK said the fuel and transport benefits make a difference to "many millions" of older people, but encouraging wealthy people to give them up could have a knock-on effect. | |
| "It is open to anyone to decide not to make use of these benefits but when it is suggested that 'wealthier pensioners' should choose to forego them our worry is that some who are badly in need of extra help will feel less inclined to take it: older people on very low incomes sometimes minimise their own difficulties and refer to others they know who are worse off than they are," Caroline Abrahams from Age UK said. | |
| A free TV licence, worth £145.50 for a colour set, is provided for people aged 75 or over, while those aged over 60 can get free NHS prescriptions. | A free TV licence, worth £145.50 for a colour set, is provided for people aged 75 or over, while those aged over 60 can get free NHS prescriptions. |
| Eligible older people are entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England when they reach the state pension age. Schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland allow people aged over 60 to apply for free bus travel. | Eligible older people are entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England when they reach the state pension age. Schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland allow people aged over 60 to apply for free bus travel. |
| The Liberal Democrats have proposed a review of the benefits, or taxing them. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said the debate about benefits for people with assets of over £1m could be opened up after the general election. | The Liberal Democrats have proposed a review of the benefits, or taxing them. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said the debate about benefits for people with assets of over £1m could be opened up after the general election. |
| The government is in the final stages of deciding its spending plan for the next three years, with welfare accounting for the biggest chunk of it. | The government is in the final stages of deciding its spending plan for the next three years, with welfare accounting for the biggest chunk of it. |