Eligible older people are being urged to apply for a separate
welfare benefit for pensioners to help with rising costs for
energy and food bills, after only about two-thirds of those
eligible for Pension Credit have claimed so far.
About 850,000 households are believed to be missing out on vital
support, at a time when the increasing cost of living is
disproportionally impacting upon those on low or fixed incomes,
including over-65s and those who have retired.
Latest statistics show that 2.1 million (18 per cent) of
pensioners in the UK live in poverty, an increase from 1.6
million (14 per cent) in 2013/14.
It comes as the Local Government Association, which represents
councils in England and Wales, joins the Department for Work and
Pensions’ call for all those of state pension age to come forward
and apply for the top-up, known as Pension Credit, which could
make a crucial difference in helping people meet their essential
needs.
The tax-free payment, which for single pensioners tops up weekly
income to a guaranteed minimum level of £182.60, or £278.70 for
couples, is also a vital gateway for claimants to be entitled to
other related help such as council tax relief, support for dental
care costs and the one-off cost of living payment of £650.
Residents can check they are eligible by using an online
calculator, provided by the DWP, to fill in their details and
find out how much they can claim. Once in receipt of Pension
Credit, they can contact their local council to ask about a
reduction in their council tax and other benefits.
The LGA says that this this is an opportunity to think about how
Pension Credit can be combined most effectively with other forms
of support to end poverty in older households.
The current cost of living pressures are likely to affect our
older residents who are eligible for pension credit in their
ability to eat well, stay healthy and keep warm. Councils want to
support older members of our communities by helping them be more
resilient to these price shocks by prioritising the
retrofitting of fuel efficiency measures to their homes and
ensuring older people’s social inclusion and financial stability
to improve health, wellbeing and loneliness.
Councils have been at the forefront of helping their residents
through the current crisis, by providing advice and financial
support including via the Household Support Fund, whose latest
criteria includes allocating a third of the £1 billion funding
towards pensioner households. Greater long-term, sustainable
funding is needed in our wider welfare system to reduce the need
for short-term crisis support, which includes not just benefits
but employment support, environment, housing, health and
financial inclusion.
Cllr Andrew Western, Chair of the LGA’s Resources Board, said:
“People across the country, including our oldest and most
vulnerable, are feeling the pressure from rising prices and bills
with some really struggling to make ends meet.
“Councils want to do all they can to help those most in need,
including encouraging anyone who is eligible to receive the
benefits they are entitled to and not miss out on essential
support which could make all the difference.
“Increasing Pension Credit uptake will definitely help and open
up avenues to other benefits, such as council tax relief and
should be part of a wider, longer-term approach to making sure
everyone has a decent standard of living.
“Good paying jobs, reducing housing costs and protecting poorer
households from paying more for essentials, supported by a
sustainable welfare system, will be what helps prevents a repeat
of this crisis and make us more financially resilient for the
future.”
Notes to Editors
Age UK: 18 per cent of
pensioners in the UK live in poverty (January 2022)
DWP Pension Credit
calculator
Independent Age: The cost
of pensioner poverty and non-take-up of Pension Credit (September
2020)
