Pensioners need benefit help by Finance News Bulletin

Published: 19/12/07

Pensioners could be behind up to £50,000 in benefits over their life, according to new research from British Gas and Help the AgedThe charity says reimbursement must be paid automatically if the government is to meet its fuel scarcity targetPensions priest Mike O'Brien insists "every effort" is being made to ensure pensioners claim the correct benefitsIf the administration is serious about meeting its fuel poverty commitment it must discontinue gambling with the lives of older peopleThe investigate was carried out by the London School of finances (LSE) for the British Gas Help the old Partnership's winter deaths campaign

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 22,300 populace over 65 died in England and Wales last winter"Recent investigate by the British Gas Help the old Partnership revealed that over one million older people cut back on foodstuff to cover their heating expenses," said spokesman Anna Pearson"If the government is serious about meeting its fuel poverty commitment it must stop betting with the lives of older people in chill, and recognise its current strategy for delivering benefits is totally off the mark," she additional"The government is making every effort to ensure that pensioners take up the benefits they are entitled to

In 2001 the government pledged to lift all susceptible households out of petroleum poverty by 2010, but many campaigners fear it will not meet its targetThe LSE report found that around semi of pensioners who were entitled to additional help could take delivery of enough money to cover all their heating costs, lifting them out of fuel poverty completelyAnalysing the typical amount of unclaimed advantage, it suggests a sixty-five year old woman who claimed an extra £25 a week would take delivery of more than £30,000 over the relax of her expected lifetimeBut the report found one in three pensioners did not know where to turn for help with benefits

Help the Aged wants the administration to bring in the automatic payment of benefits and invest in more countenance to countenance advicePensions Minister Mike O'Brien said "The government is making every effort to make sure that pensioners take up the benefits they are entitled to"This year around 116 million pensioners in more than 8 million households will take delivery of Winter Fuel Payments of £200, rising to £300 for populace over 80

"We're spending £800 million on civilizing heating and insulation in low income households through initiatives such as temperate Front," he addedpension reform Women 1 Women 2 Pension rights Divorce Work pensions Lump arithmetic Pension Credit Frozen pensions Shortfalls Overseas pension Small pensions Tax and pensions retirement fund repair Made simpleState retirement fund With-profits Final salary Money purchase Annuities Serps State Second

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