Older people to receive help claiming council tax

The government has announced plans today to make it easier for older people to claim help with their council tax bills.

James Plaskitt, minister for benefits, launched a new form that aims to make it much simpler for pensioners who are eligible for pension credit to claim council tax benefit.

From December all older people who call to claim pension credit will be given the opportunity to fill out the form and apply for both benefits at the same time. They will only have to give their details out once.

Plaskitt said the new process aimed to ensure that extra money got to those who needed it most. “We want people to get the money they are owed. The new system is geared up to help people get extra cash in their pocket,” he said.