Over 4,500 Local Pensioner Households Missing Out on Pension Credit
February 7, 2005 12:00 AM
New figures released today by Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell, have revealed that over 4,500 pensioners across Stockport are missing out on pension credit payments.
According to the Government's own figures, only 70% of people entitled to this money are currently claiming it. In Mr Stunell's Hazel Grove constituency this would mean that over 1,400 pensioner households are failing to receive money due to them, with over 4,500 losing out across the borough.
Mr Stunell has called on the Government to introduce a new Citizen's Pension which would take millions of pensioners off means-tested benefits.
Andrew Stunell said:
"The Labour Government should be ashamed that so many of this country's poorest pensioners are still living so far beneath the poverty line. In the last few months take-up of Pension Credit have plummeted. Things have gone from bad to worse with the new confusing Pension Credit Scheme."
"Under the current system it is often people who have taken time out of paid employment to look after family members who are the worst off. A Citizen's Pension would mean that every pensioner would receive an adequate basic pension and people would not be penalised for saving for their retirement."
Mr Stunell added:
"Pensioners continue to get a bad deal from this Government. That is why the Liberal Democrats would introduce a Citizen's Pension, give free off peak transport to pensioners and abolish the unfair Council Tax that hits pensioners especially hard."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1) The Government do not make estimates of numbers of households who eligible for the pension credit by constituency. According to figures from the Department of Work and Pensions there are 3,588 pensioner households in Hazel Grove currently receiving Pension Credit. Nationally only 70% of pensioner households (2,650,000 out of 3,750,000) entitled to the benefit are receiving the payment. The Government do not make estimates of numbers of households who are eligible for the pension credit by constituency. Working on the assumption that take-up and eligibility reflect the national picture, in Hazel Grove 5,059 households should be receiving Pension Credit and 1,471 households are therefore missing out.
2) Pension Credit is an entitlement for people aged 60 or over living in Great Britain. It should guarantee everyone aged 60 and over an income of at least £105.45 for single pensioners and £160.95 a week for pensioner couples. You can apply for Pension Credit by calling the freephone Pension Credit application line on 0800 99 1234, textphone 0800 169 0133. Lines are open between 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
3) The Citizen's Pension will be paid at the level of the 'Guarantee Credit' part of the Pension Credit, and will increase in line with average earnings to ensure that its real value is protected. This will ensure that pensioners can genuinely share in the growing wealth of the nation and will also dramatically reduce the number of pensioners forced into means-testing. The Liberal Democrats guarantee to introduce the Citizen's Pension for all pensioners aged 75 and over in the first full financial year of a Parliament, as a first step towards providing it for all. This means that single pensioners over 75 will receive an extra £25 per week and couples will receive an extra £33.
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