Age Concern encourages older people to claim

Age Concern launched a week-long campaign this week to highlight
benefit changes and encourage older people to claim what is
rightfully theirs.

According to the charity, up to 670,000 pensioners do not claim
income support and up to 1.2 million miss out on means-tested
council tax benefit because they don’t realise they are entitled to
it or are too proud to claim.

More than a million older people already miss out on extra cash
help, but changes to the income and savings rules for means-tested
benefits from this week will mean that even more older people will
become entitled to additional money through income support or help
towards their rent and council tax.

Pensioner income support – the minimum income guarantee – rose
by £13.70 to £92.15, while the threshold for savings
doubled from £3,000 to £6,000.

Age Concern director general Gordon Lishman said: “The latest
cash boost means it’s never been more important for older people to
make a claim.”

Age Concern will aim to raise awareness by holding special
activities at local branches around the country. The latest
information will be also be available from the Age Concern
Information line on 0800 009966.