Conservatives slam Pension Credit system - again

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The Conservative Party has slammed the Pension Credit system calling it "chaotic" and "nightmarishly complicated".

The renewed attack follows an announcement from the Department for Work and Pensions that it is paying an extra £2bn a year to 3.2m pensioners through the pension credit. Pensions minister Malcolm Wicks says some 3.17 million people are now receiving Pension Credit, with the average weekly household payment at £41.71. Shadow work and pensions secretary, David Willetts, however, points out that at least 1.7m elderly people are still not receiving it, due to it being "nightmarishly complicated". Willetts cites means testing as a "threat to the dignity and independence of today's pension...

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