Over 6,000 Islington pensioners could miss out of cash they're owed, Lib Dems reveal (Islington Liberal Democrats)

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

Over 6,000 Islington pensioners could miss out of cash they're owed, Lib Dems reveal

January 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Lib Dems have revealed new figures which show that over 6000 pensioners in Islington alone are still missing out on the cash they're owed under the new Pension Credit. Almost half of entitled pensioner households are still missing out on the Government's flagship Pension Credit in the Capital. Out of 450,000 pensioners in London entitled to receive the means-tested benefit, 214,000 (48%) are failing to claim. This means that approximately 6485 pensioners in each London borough are still failing to claim the pension credit. The low take-up comes despite months of costly Government advertising promoting the Pension Credit. Lib Dem Councillor Laura Willoughby recently spearheaded a campaign to highlight the new pension credit and encourage take up amongst Islington pensioners. Commenting on the figures, Laura said: "It's shocking that many of Islington's pensioners are losing out of the cash that many of them desperately need. The problem is that this means tested credit is so complicated - no wonder pensioners aren't claiming what they're owed. "The Labour Government hasn't even bothered to write to all pensioners to tell them about the new benefit. This has resulted in an appalling take up and thousands of older people missing out on benefits they are entitled to. "The Lib Dems believe that the only guaranteed way to get extra money to the poorest pensioners is by boosting the inadequate state pension."