Not enough pensioners are getting the cash they're owed (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Not enough pensioners are getting the cash they're owed

January 14, 2004 12:00 AM

Lib Dem Laura Willoughby has welcomed the news that some pensioners have applied for the Government's new pension credit but has warned that thousands of pensioners accrross Islington could still miss out on cash they're owed. The Labour Government has recently released figures which show that the new pension credit is being paid to 90,000 pensioner households. But this is still less than half of those who should be getting the money. Laura recently spearheaded a campaign to highlight the new pension credit and encourage take up amongst Islington pensioners. Since then Lib Dem Islington council has advertised the new credit in its residents' newsletter. The Government has admitted that out of approximately 12,000 Islington pensioners eligible for the pension credit at least 3,000 will not claim it and miss out. The Government's target of 75 per cent of eligible people in receipt of the benefit by 2006 would still leave over a million pensioners excluded. Laura Willoughby added: "There's still a real risk that thousands of Islington's pensioners could lose out of cash that many desperately need. What's worse is that the Government's not even bothering to write to all pensioners to let them know about it. "This complicated means tested benefit is so complex no wonder pensioners aren't bothering to take it up. "The Lib Dems believe that the only guaranteed way to get extra money to the poorest pensioners is by boosting the inadequate state pension." Notes 1. A report released by the Department for Work and Pensions last week revealed that: ? 88% of people questioned before the benefit was introduced had not heard of it. ? While most people who were not yet claiming income support were positive about the new benefit, nearly a quarter of all pensioners expressed uncertainty about claiming or said that they definitely would not make a claim for the benefit ? Half said they did not like asking for extra money and 44% said claiming income-related benefits would affect their pride. ? Just over a quarter believed they were accepting charity.