22 - Expert benefits advice for pensioners

 

An estimated £1.4 billion in council tax benefit  and £1.1 billion in housing benefit  goes unclaimed in the UK every year.

 

Dudley Council’s Benefits Shop, in partnership with Age Concern Dudley and the Pension Local Service is launching a year-long campaign  - More Money In your Pocket – which starts with housing and council tax benefit take-up.

 

On Wednesday (April 30) benefits experts will be on hand at Dudley Council Plus in Castle Street, Dudley, from 10am to 2pm, to advise people if they are entitled to benefit and assist with the completion of any claims. Alternatively, people can call Age Concern Dudley’s information and advice service on 01384 359736.

 

Nationally only 60 per cent of eligible home owners, the majority of whom are pensioners, make a claim. For Dudley, this means there could be more than 4,000 pensioner home owners not claiming housing benefit and/or council tax benefit.

 

Dudley Council is particularly keen to encourage pensioners to find out if they are eligible for a rebate on their council tax and/or rent.

 

Claiming is easy - one form covers both housing and council tax benefit.

 

 

“Dudley Council wants to ensure that wherever possible people get the money they are entitled to - it is a right not a privilege. We will work out if someone qualifies for help, taking into account their individual circumstances.

 

“This will include their age, income and whether they live alone. In some situations, savings of £16,000 and above will mean there is no entitlement to housing and council tax benefit, but people aged 65 or over may still be able to claim. If in doubt, get advice”

 

Advice will also be available at the event regarding council tax discounts and  exemptions. Discounts are generally available if there are less than two adults in the household (certain people are disregarded), whereas other reliefs depend on the occupiers meeting certain criteria concerning benefit entitlement, such as substantial and permanent disablity and student status.

 

A similar event in April last year resulted in over half the people seeking advice being entitled to extra benefit. They claimed, on average, an extra £22 per week (over £2,100 a year) towards their rent and/or council tax.