News
April 2007
Pensioners encouraged to claim their benefits
New research from Age Concern suggests that over a third of people in the UK are worried that an older friend or relative is not claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. Over the next year the Charity's 'Your Rights' campaign is aiming to put an extra £100 million into pensioners' pockets by helping them claim their benefits.
With council tax set to rise by 4.2 per cent this year it is of particular concern that Council Tax Benefit is the benefit least claimed by older people. The research revealed that one of the main reasons for this is that 60 per cent of older homeowners think they are not eligible for Council Tax Benefit. Others are too embarrassed to claim or find the process too complicated.
To overcome these and other obstacles, Age Concern has some tips on claiming benefits:
- don't let complicated forms put you off - Age Concern can help you fill them in
- your local Pension Service or Age Concern may be able to visit your home to give advice
- check if you are entitled to Pension Credit – if you are you can get help with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same time
- you may be entitled to Council Tax Benefit even if you own your own home
- benefits are not hand-outs – claim the money you are entitled to