Pensioners urged to claim benefits
Updated on 30 November 2007
Pensioners could be losing up to £50,000 in benefits over their lifetime by not claiming all their entitlements, according to a new report.
The benefits are sitting in a Government pot of £4.5 billion of unclaimed benefits for older people, research carried out by the London School of Economics for British Gas and Help the Aged showed.
One in three pensioners do not know who to turn to for help and advice on how to claim their benefits, the report said.
A survey of more than 1,000 people over the age of 60 found that half of those eligible for additional benefits could receive enough financial support to cover all their heating costs, which would lift them out of fuel poverty.
British Gas and Help the Aged said the research supported their call for the Government to introduce automatic payment of benefits and invest more in face-to-face advice programmes.
British Gas Help the Aged Partnership spokeswoman Anna Pearson said: "Recent research by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership revealed that over one million older people cut back on food to cover their heating costs.
"If the Government is serious about meeting its fuel poverty commitment it must stop gambling with the lives of older people in winter and recognise its current strategy for delivering benefits is completely off the mark.
"Today, older campaigners throughout the country will join the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership's campaign in its greeting cards day to encourage older people to make a claim and beat the Government at its own benefits game.
"With individual pensioners possibly eligible for up to £50,000, our message to older people is - you've got to claim it to gain it."
The Partnership urged older people to get a benefits check this winter, even if entitlements are already being received, as benefits and schemes constantly change along with an individual's eligibility.
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