Older people 'not claiming benefits'

Tue 23 Oct 2007 4pm

A charity has said that the failure of the UK's older population to claim the benefits which they are entitled to is becoming a "real problem".

There is currently more than £4 billion left unclaimed by elderly people each year, Age Concern's Helen Spinney stated, despite the fact that 1.8 million of the country's older residents live in poverty.

According to the spokesperson, there is a "whole number of reasons" for people failing to claim their pension credit and other benefits, with some people perhaps feeling embarrassed while others suffer from "lack of information" and may not realise what they are entitled to.

Ms Spinney said: "We've spoken to older people who have literally found themselves hundreds of pounds better off per month by claiming their benefits.

"Finding out what benefits you are entitled to would be a key piece of advice for any older person."

Pension credit guarantees single people over the age of 60 an income of about £120 a week, while people with partners are entitled to a weekly allowance of about £182.

All information and material on this website is for information only and should not be construed as advice designed
to meet the needs and the circumstances of a particular customer, please seek professional guidance as appropriate.

© Copyright 2006-2007, Trumpo Limited. All rights reserved. Trumpo and the "Trumpo" logo are registered trademarks of Trumpo Limited.