Exactly, Franbern and thank you.
A relatively small number of people are awarded the payment each year, that is, when they turn 80. On the basis that there are around 1.5 million people age 80-84 in the UK, so say a fifth turning 80 each year, say 300,000 - or fewer than 6,000 people a week.
The cost of stamp argument is silly as DWP is a bulk mailer, sending out thousands of letters each week and will be charged much less than the price of a 2nd class stamp per item, probably less than 30p an item.
It’s a one off notification so a one-off cost. Once the payment is embedded in the pension, it’s there until someone dies.
True, it’s only £13 a year extra pension but I can imagine the argument if someone said the DWP wouldn’t spend 30p a year to tell them they were entitled to it and pay it, which the DWP has a statutory i.e. legal responsibility to do.
The government could try cancelling it and save £47 million a year - and then face a similar PR disaster as removing universal Winter Fuel Payment did.
I'm ten years off 80 and won't ever receive it as it has been abolished for younger pensioners but if I did receive it, I'd think of it as an extra £13 a year that would pay my energy bill for a week in the summer.
