Pensioners missing out on benefits

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WILL SHOW IF PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE

PENSIONERS are being urged to check if they are eligible for extra benefits, as figures show many could be missing out on vital financial support.

More than 106,000 retired people in the East Midlands - part of more than 1.5 million across Great Britain - receive extra financial help through Pension Credit, according to the latest figures, but the government says that many more are still not claiming this help.

It has led to renewed calls for pensioners in the region to check if they could be eligible.

Guy Opperman, the Minister for Pensions, said that it was vital for people to get the support available to them and that the process for finding out was relatively straightforward.

“We want to make sure that all older people receive the support they are entitled to,” he said.

“Pension Credit can be claimed by phone and online, ensuring that older people can apply safely, wherever they are.”

He added: “Our online Pension Credit calculator is also on hand to help pensioners check if they’re likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive.”

Mr Opperman urged family members and friends to check in with pensioners to make sure their are getting the support they are entitled to.

The Department for Work and Pensions said that having financial stability does not necessarily mean someone cannot claim Pension Credit.

A spokesperson said: “Having savings, a pension or owning a home are not necessarily barriers to receiving Pension Credit and even a small award of Pension Credit can provide access to a wide range of other benefits – such as help with housing costs, council tax or heating bills.

“For those over 75 and in receipt of Pension Credit, these additional benefits include continued entitlement to a free TV licence.”

The government has also developed a Pension Credit toolkit as an online tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage take-up.

For more information call 0800 99 1234 or visit the website, where visitors can use the free online calculator:

A CITY MP has initiated a parliamentary campaign that calls on the government to scrap its recent immigration policy that makes rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling someone’s right to remain in the UK.

Claudia Webbe, who represents Leicester East for Labour, has tabled an Early Day Motion, supported by a range of cross-party MPs including Diane Abbott (Labour), Dr Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party), Layla Moran (Liberal Democrats) and Claire Hanna (Social Democrat and Labour Party).

The Early Day Motion - a cause submitted for debate in the House of Commons for which no day has been fixed calls for the government to scrap the policy and urges it instead to work towards eradicating rough sleeping in the UK for all people, regardless of their immigration status.

Ms Webbe has previously written a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel warning that the new immigration rules will increase hardship and exploitation and urging the government to reconsider this “cruel” policy.

Ms Webbe said: “This is the latest example of the government’s mistreatment and demonisation of asylumseekers and refugees.

“It has sadly been a tried and tested technique of reactionary governments to gild their destructive administrations with a toxic veneer of appearing ‘strong’ on immigration.

“Yet this divide and rule tactic has only ever brought misery to all working people, regardless of their country of birth.

“It is crucial that the government recognises that rough sleeping is not a static problem, but rather a constant conveyor belt of misery.

“Throughout this pandemic, the injustice of the No Recourse to Public Funds policy, the inadequacies of Covid-19 support packages and Universal Credit, spikes in domestic violence and the failure to cap rents and cancel arrears continue to leave more and more people vulnerable to homelessness.

“The government must revoke the discriminatory new immigration rule and set in place a plan to permanently eradicate rough sleeping,” said Ms Webbe.