Home > All articles  Your advertisement here   Friends and family must do more to help older people claim vital benefits cash Age Concern is calling on people across the UK to urge their older friends and family to claim their benefits as this could dramatically improve their quality of life and lift many out of poverty. The call comes as new research for the charity reveals that more than a third (35%) of people are worried that an older friend or relative is missing out on vital money benefits.1 In a bid to reverse the growing amount of benefits cash left unclaimed by older people each year – now up to £4.2 billion2 - Age Concern is today launching a major new campaign to encourage older people to claim the money that’s rightfully theirs. The charity has set an ambitious target for the year-long ‘Your Rights’ campaign, pledging to put an extra £100 million into the pockets of pensioners before April 2008. News that council tax bills will increase by an average 4.2%3 this year will be a huge worry for many pensioners, yet official figures show that Council Tax Benefit is still the least claimed benefit by older people, particularly homeowners on a low income.4 New Age Concern research shows that over 60%5 of older homeowners on low incomes think they would be ineligible for Council Tax Benefit - yet almost exactly the same percentage of lower income homeowners who are entitled aren’t claiming.6 Up to £1.4 billion in Council Tax Benefit is failing to reach older people, with almost 50% of those entitled to claim - up to 2.2 million pensioner households - missing out.7 That’s why the campaign spotlight will focus on encouraging older people to claim the Council Tax Benefit that they are entitled to throughout April and May.8 Bob and Dorothy, who between them claimed an extra £250 per week in money benefits with the help of their local Age Concern, said: “Once we made a claim for one benefit, we found we were entitled to many more. We no longer have to pay Council Tax, get extra money each week and receive help paying for glasses and free dentist treatment. Claiming benefits has made a massive difference to our lives and Age Concern made it really easy to claim. They visited us at home and helped us to fill out the forms.” The charity is concerned that some of the poorest and most excluded older people are missing out on benefits cash that’s rightfully theirs because they don’t know that they are entitled, are worried about the complexity of the process or are embarrassed about claiming. Yet local Age Concerns across the country offer clear, free and confidential help and advice which can overcome these obstacles. Older people or concerned friends or relatives should contact their local Age Concern or call the free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for more information and advice. Actor and TV presenter, Tony Robinson, who is supporting the campaign, said: "You wouldn't throw your own money out of the window, would you? Yet that's what thousands of elderly people do every day by not collecting the benefits that are due to them. We pay our taxes and National Insurance all our lives - lets make sure we all get the proper return on that investment." Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said: “Millions of older people across the UK are missing out on money that’s rightfully theirs and could make a huge difference to their quality of life. That’s why we’re launching our new year-long Your Rights campaign and are determined to get an extra £100 million into the pockets of those who need it most by April 2008. “There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a claim. Claiming Council Tax Benefit alone could cut bills by an average of £580 a year and claiming Housing Benefit could mean paying less or no rent at all. We would urge older people to get in touch with their local Age Concern for a free benefits check or to phone our free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 for more information.”     By K.S. Date 15-04-2007 Print this news| Send to a friend Your advertisement here