Tackling pensioner poverty
Helen has taken up the issue of pensioners not receiving the payments to which they are entitled with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
She said “Pensioner poverty has declined significantly – from 27 per cent to 17 per cent in the last ten years. This is because the Government has made extra resources available, for example for top-up pension payments for those in need, plus free eye tests, free TV licences and winter fuel payments.
“However, across County Durham there remain pockets of poverty where older people are not claiming the extra income to which they are entitled. I was very concerned to see that many deprived rural areas in places like Teesdale have a particularly low take up of Pension Credit.”
Helen was commenting as part of a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into tackling pensioner poverty. The PAC were examining facts discovered by the National Audit Office in their recent report on the issues.
The Committee questioned officials from DWP on what they are doing to make sure all pensioners get the support they need.
Helen added, “I questioned the civil servants over how they are improving benefit take-up. I argued that we need many more home visits to older people as they have been shown to be very successful.”
“In my constituency the number of excess winter deaths is running at about 50 a year and presumably this is in part because of people not being able to heat their homes because their incomes are too low. So making sure we reach people in rural areas is really vital.”
Helen is encouraging local pensioners to contact the Pension Service Local Service if they want to find out more about their entitlements. The number to call is 0845 606 0265.
The Pension Service Local Service will carry out a home visit and provide pensioners with a full benefit check to make sure pensioners are not missing out any entitlements. During these home visits the visiting officer will also assess other needs, such as needing help with the garden, and will provide the relevant information or make a referral to a third party.
Filed under: Uncategorized on December 20th, 2006
