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Millions of hard-up pensioners who are missing out on money they should be getting to help pay basic household bills, including heating and council tax, should act now to beat the deadline for claims, Citizens Advice warned today.
Official estimates suggest that up to four in 10 pensioners entitled to pension credit – money paid to top up the basic state retirement pension of £87.30 a week - are not getting the extra cash they are due. As much as £2.5 billion* went unclaimed in the financial year 2005/06, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Many simply assume they do not qualify, or are daunted by the prospect of making a claim. But in making a claim for pension credit they could increase their income to £119.05 a week for a single person or £181.70 a week for a couple.
If they claim now, some could also get a substantial lump sum, as payment can currently be backdated for up to a year. But this will change from October if Government plans to cut the backdating period to only three months go ahead.
The same new backdating time limit will be applied to council tax benefit, which many pensioners are also missing out on – particularly those who are homeowners. Pensioners who get council tax benefit can find their council tax bills substantially reduced or even paid in full, yet official estimates show barely half of those eligible actually claim the money they are due**.
Citizens Advice is also urging people over 60 who have not received a winter fuel payment to check their entitlement well before the March 31 deadline for making claims. Most pensioners receive the £200 payment (£300 for those over 80) automatically, but some people need to make a claim. Most men aged 60-65 and still working are likely to be in this category.
Citizens Advice Director of Policy Teresa Perchard said:
“With higher council tax bills dropping through many people’s letterboxes on top of huge hikes in the price of gas, electricity and other household bills, many pensioners are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet. Yet billions of pounds that should be helping them is going unclaimed every year.
“Too many pensioners are missing out on money that is rightfully theirs. Many don’t know about things like council tax benefit, or think they won’t qualify for help. Others are put off claiming by red tape. But claiming can be simple, and pensioners can get a free, confidential benefits check at any Citizens Advice Bureau. Our advice is to do this without delay. We can also help with making claims and sorting out any problems to do with pensions and benefits as well as debts.
“We very much oppose the government’s plans to drastically cut the time limit for backdating some benefit claims, which will just make it harder for some of the most vulnerable older people, and we are campaigning strongly to try and persuade ministers to change their mind on this. In the meantime, we would urge anyone over 60 to check what they should be getting without delay.”
More information about pensions and benefits for older people can be found on the Citizens Advice website  www.adviceguide.org.uk/benefits or the Pension Service website www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Additional notes to editors:
*Source: Department for Work and Pensions Income Related Benefits Take-Up Estimates 05/06
www.dwp.gov.uk/income analysis
**Source DWP Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up
Pensioner caseload take-up of Council Tax Benefit: between 54% and 60% www.dwp.gov.uk/income analysis/CouncilTaxBenefit
- For more information on benefits, including Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payments, and help with claiming in England, see: www.adviceguide.org.uk/benefits for people over sixty
- For more information on Council Tax Benefit, including how to claim in England see:
www.adviceguide.org.uk/help with your council tax council tax benefit
- In England, people on low incomes, including pensioners who rent or own their own home may also be eligible for a grant under the Warm Front Scheme (0800 316 2805 or www.warmfront.co.uk ), a Government funded initiative which provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is recommended). The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) offers free, practical energy advice for people concerned about paying their electricity bills.
- (In Wales, people on a low income, including pensioners, who own or rent their home, may be eligible for a grant under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (0800 316 2815 or www.heeswales.co.uk ). This is a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative aimed at making homes in Wales warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. Householders who are aged 80 or over can qualify even if they are not on a low income The scheme provides a package of heating and insulation improvements up to the value of £3,600 (or £5000 if oil central heating is recommended). Homeowners who are aged 60 or over, even if they are not in receipt of any benefits or on low income, may be eligible to claim up to £500 towards the cost of energy efficiency improvements.)
Notes to editors:
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers.
For more information in England and Wales www.citizensadvice.org.uk
For more information and 2008/9 service statistics see Introduction to the service
For 2008/9 service highlights see the Citizens Advice service impact report
For 2008/9 social policy campaigning highlights see the Citizens Advice social policy impact report
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2 million clients on 6 million problems from April 2008 to March 2009
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
- Follow Citizens Advice on Twitter: twitter.com/CitizensAdvice
- Subscribe to Citizens Advice press releases via RSS news feed: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/pressoffice
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