Government targets 250,000 older people in new Pension Credit campaign » Central government » 24dash.com

The Government is to contact 250,000 older people as part of a campaign to make sure they claim Pension Credit amid fears that more than a million over 60-year-olds are missing out on additional financial help, it was announced today.

Pensions minister Mike O'Brien said many older people mistakenly believed that owning their own home or having some savings automatically ruled them out from getting any Pension Credit to top up their income.

Pension Credit ensures that no pensioner aged 60 or over should live on less than £124.05 a week, but it is believed that over a million people entitled to receive the money are not claiming.

Mr O'Brien said: "It's vital that older people claim money that's rightfully theirs to help with their day-to-day needs."

The minister said 2.7 million households received Pension Credit every week, proving how widespread the payment was.

Around £2 billion worth of Pension Credits was not being claimed every year, rising to £5 billion when unclaimed housing and council tax benefits were added.

Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said: "Rising living costs are leaving many pensioners struggling to make ends meet. Yet, millions are missing out on their share of up to £5 billion in Pension Credit and other benefits unclaimed each year, which could make a huge difference to their quality of life.

"With the rules on backdating of benefits changing in October, we would urge any older person struggling to make ends meet to make a claim now to ensure they don't lose out on cash that's rightfully theirs."

Mervyn Kohler, special adviser at Help the Aged, said: "Pensioner poverty is a real issue which must be tackled urgently - and claiming benefits which belong in older people's pockets is crucial to that."