Thousands of older people across Newcastle are thought to be missing out on Pension Credit – and are at risk of losing winter fuel payments that they are entitled to.
Council bosses estimate that pensioners in 4,373 low-income households in the city are not claiming Pension Credit, which can be worth on average up to £3,900 per year.
The benefit tops up weekly income for a pensioner to £218.15 a week, or £332.95 a week for a couple.
People are being urged to take up Pension Credit urgently, after the Labour Government’s controversial cuts to the winter fuel allowance. While Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that winter fuel payments worth up to £300 will be axed for around 10 million people, those on Pension Credit and certain other benefits will continue to receive it.
Kenton ward councillor Stephen Lambert called the number of elderly people thought to be missing out “alarming” and urged those eligible to sign up before 21 December, the last possible date to make a successful backdated claim in order to receive their winter fuel payment.
He said: ‘’It’s vital that more city pensioners claim Pension Credit. Over 4,300 are missing out on vital cash support as the cost of living crisis continues. If older people claim by December 21 they can get it backdated by three months and get the winter fuel allowance. Pension Credit opens the door to other benefits.’’
The estimated number of eligible people not claiming Pension Credit in Newcastle is based on a national takeup rate of 63%. And it is some of the poorest parts of Newcastle which are thought to be the worst-affected – including Walker, Elswick, and Byker.
Nationwide, it is thought that up to 880,000 pensioners are eligible for the support but do not claim it.
Cllr Lambert added that Pension Credit “could make a significant difference in helping older residents to meet their essential needs” and avoid more vulnerable people “plunging into absolute poverty”.
Amid a continuing backlash over the winter fuel payment cuts, Ms Reeves said that Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool this week said that Pension Credit applications had jumped to “more than 10,000 a week, they were around 3,000 a week previously”.
On Wednesday, delegates to the conference backed a union motion calling for the cut to be reversed – though the vote is not binding on the Government.
Pension Credit applications can be made online at this link and over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234.
