Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
I represented the Welsh Government at the inaugural meeting of the Inter\-Ministerial Group (IMG) on Work and Pensions on 6 November.


A **joint communique**was published following the meeting, which contains full details of other attendees. The agenda covered: Introductions; IMG Terms of Reference; Move to Universal Credit; Pension Credit Take\-up Campaign, and the Welsh Government’s Claim What’s Yours Campaign.


As referred to in the communique, the Terms of Reference were formally agreed. I welcomed the establishment of the IMG, which will allow us to discuss areas of mutual interest – notably support for the most disadvantaged people in Wales.


I highlighted the Welsh Government’s priority to tackle poverty through supporting people to maximise their household income. I stressed the importance of ensuring that Tax Credit claimants in Wales, who are now part of the Move to Universal Credit process, are supported throughout the transition. I raised my concerns that people should not lose out on any money that they are entitled to because of the managed migration process.


On Pension Credit take\-up, I highlighted the work the Welsh Government has been doing to increase take\-up. This includes the innovative Claim What’s Yours campaign, which is having great results in generating increased adoption of benefits across Wales. Last year the campaign helped more than 7,500 people to claim over £3\.6 million worth of additional income. I shared that we are currently preparing to launch our fourth campaign which will include promotional materials to target older people specifically on Pension Credit.


I conveyed my support for the use of pilots, such as the one that DWP are running in Powys which is directly encouraging older people who may be eligible for Pension Credit to submit a claim. However, with an estimated 80,000 pensioners across Wales being entitled to Pension Credit but not currently claiming, there is still much work to be done.


Whilst our projects in Wales are delivering great results, I raised again the suggestion that a strategic UK\-wide benefit campaign would be helpful to increase take\-up further. The focus of such a campaign, should not only be on awareness raising, but also supporting access to advice and support services, as well as aiding data sharing arrangements.


Finally, I raised my concerns that promotion and awareness raising is only a part of the solution in increasing take\-up of benefits, and that some people will require support in making the claim itself. Although the Welsh Government’s Single Advice Fund is supporting the voluntary sector to provide such provision in Wales. I called on the UK Government to consider funding a Help to Claim service for Pension Credit, like their service that is helping people to claim Universal Credit.


The next meeting of the IMG on Work and Pensions will be chaired by myself, as the representative of the Welsh Government, and is expected to take place in Spring 2024\.







Translation:


 
Cynrychiolais Lywodraeth Cymru yng nghyfarfod cyntaf y Grŵp Rhyngeinidogol ar Waith a Phensiynau ar 6 Tachwedd.


Cyhoeddwyd **datganiad ar y cyd** ar ôl y cyfarfod, sy'n cynnwys manylion llawn am bawb arall a oedd yn bresennol.  Roedd yr agenda yn cynnwys: Cyflwyniad; Cylch Gorchwyl y ‌Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol; Symud i Gredyd Cynhwysol; Ymgyrch Manteisio ar Gredyd Pensiwn; ac ymgyrch Llywodraeth Cymru, Hawliwch yr hyn sy’n ddyledus i chi.


Fel y cyfeirir ato yn y datganiad ar y cyd, cytunwyd ar y Cylch Gorchwyl yn ffurfiol. Roeddwn yn croesawu sefydlu'r Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol, a fydd yn ein galluogi i drafod meysydd sydd o ddiddordeb i bob aelod o'r grŵp – yn enwedig cefnogaeth i'r bobl fwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru.


Amlygais flaenoriaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â thlodi drwy gefnogi pobl i gael cymaint o incwm ag sy'n ddyledus i'w haelwyd. Pwysleisiais bwysigrwydd sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n hawlio Credyd Treth yng Nghymru, sydd bellach yn rhan o'r broses Symud i Gredyd Cynhwysol, yn cael cefnogaeth drwy gydol y cyfnod pontio. Soniais am fy fy mhryderon na ddylai pobl golli unrhyw arian y mae ganddynt hawl iddo oherwydd y broses bontio hon.


O ran y nifer sy'n manteisio ar Gredyd Pensiwn, tynnais sylw at y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei wneud i'w gynyddu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys yr ymgyrch arloesol, Hawliwch yr hyn sy’n ddyledus i chi i, sy'n gweld canlyniadau gwych wrth i fwy a mwy fanteisio ar fudd\-daliadau ledled Cymru. Y llynedd, helpodd yr ymgyrch dros 7,500 o bobl i hawlio gwerth dros £3\.6 miliwn o incwm ychwanegol.  Rhannais ein bod ar hyn o bryd yn paratoi i lansio ein pedwaredd ymgyrch a fydd yn cynnwys deunyddiau hyrwyddo i dargedu pobl hŷn yn benodol ar Gredyd Pensiwn.


Mynegais fy nghefnogaeth i'r defnydd o gynlluniau peilot, fel yr un y mae'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn ei redeg ym Mhowys, lle cymerir camau i annog pobl hŷn a allai fod yn gymwys i gael Credyd Pensiwn i gyflwyno hawliad. Fodd bynnag, a thua 80,000 o bensiynwyr ledled Cymru sydd â hawl i Gredyd Pensiwn ond heb fod yn ei hawlio ar hyn o bryd, mae llawer o waith i'w wneud o hyd.


Er bod ein prosiectau yng Nghymru yn cyflawni canlyniadau gwych, fe wnes i unwaith eto godi'r awgrym y byddai ymgyrch fudd\-daliadau strategol ledled y Deyrnas Unedig yn ddefnyddiol i gynyddu'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar hyn ymhellach. Dylai ymgyrch o'r fath ganolbwyntio, nid dim ond ar godi ymwybyddiaeth, ond hefyd ar gefnogi pobl i gael gafael ar wasanaethau cyngor a chymorth, yn ogystal â hwyluso trefniadau rhannu data.


Yn olaf, codais fy mhryderon mai dim ond rhan o'r ateb yw hyrwyddo a chodi ymwybyddiaeth wrth geisio cynyddu'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar fudd\-daliadau, ac y bydd angen cymorth ar rai pobl i wneud yr hawliad ei hun. Er bod Cronfa Gynghori Sengl Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r sector gwirfoddol i wneud darpariaeth o'r fath yng Nghymru. Galwais ar Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ystyried ariannu gwasanaeth Cymorth i Hawlio ar gyfer Credyd Pensiwn, fel eu gwasanaeth sy'n helpu pobl i hawlio Credyd Cynhwysol.


Bydd cyfarfod nesaf y Grŵp Rhyngweinidogol ar Waith a Phensiynau yn cael ei gadeirio gen i, fel cynrychiolydd Llywodraeth Cymru, a disgwylir iddo gael ei gynnal yng ngwanwyn 2024\.