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8 - More money in your pocket
Archived news release from 2008
Older people in Dudley who could be missing out on hundreds of pounds in benefits are being urged to go along to a special advice session next weeek.
Dudley Council has teamed up with Age Concern Dudley and Pension Local Service for the More Money in Your Pocket campaign at Dudley Council Plus on Thursday August 21, between 10am and 2pm.
Benefits experts from the three organisations will be on hand to offer advice and encourage older residents to claim Pension Credit and other money available to them.
Councillor Anne Millward, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for finance, said:
“We want to ensure that as far as possible people get the money they are entitled to. Government figures estimate that £2.9 million of Pension Credit is underclaimed nationally.
“Backdating rules for Pension Credit are likely to be restricted with effect from October this year, so we want to ensure as many people as possible claim their full entitlement before that time. Staff can advise people if they are entitled and help them complete any claim forms.”
The open day follows the success of similar events earlier this year and last year, which have allowed residents to tap into various welfare benefits available to them.
The latest open day includes advice on Pension Credit - which is paid to people aged 60 or over and ensures they have a guaranteed level of income. It has two elements, and experts advise that even if people have no entitlement to one benefit, they may be entitled to another.
It includes Guaranteed Credit where people can top up their income to at least £124.05 a week if they are single or £189.35 a week per couple.
The second aspect is Savings Credit which is extra money for people 65 or over, who have made provision for retirement. Entitlement is awarded through working out a percentage of a person’s weekly income and the maximum payable is £19.71 a week for single people, or £26.13 a week per couple.
For more information people should go along to the advice session on Thursday August 21 at Dudley Council Plus offices in Castle Street, Dudley. Alternatively you can book an appointment, or get telephone advice, by ringing Age Concern Dudley on 01384 357150. Home visits are also available in certain cases.
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