How can we help Pensioners beat the rising cost of living ?
With the cost of living increasing for us all, the elderly are more at risk to suffer. Most elderly are on fixed if not decreasing incomes and will find it difficult to manage.
Many will cut back on essentials such as food and warmth in order to make ends meet.
How can we help pensioners beat the rising cost of living?
Did you know one in five pensioners miss out on hundreds of pounds’ worth of benefits entitled to them. Does this apply to someone you care for or even yourself ? They/You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by finding out !
The 5 reasons most elderly people don’t claim are
- the system is complicated
- there are long forms
- they think they’d only be a few pounds better off
- they are too proud
- they have savings and think this disqualifies them.
Benefits don’t arrive automatically. You have to claim them, and ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’.
Pension Credit and the importance of claiming it
If you do only one thing as a result of reading this, apply for Pension Credit !
In some cases, claiming £2 a week in Guarantee Pension Credit can mean more than £200 extra in your pocket a week.
There are two types of Pension Credit – Guarantee and Savings.
What is guarantee pension credit ?
Extra money to make your weekly income a minimum level decided by the government. You must be the qualifying age. Use this Pension Age calculator or call the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 to find out what age you will qualify, as it depends on your date of birth.
It is called Guarantee Pension Credit as it guarantees a minimum amount to live on. This is currently £145.40 for singles and £222.05 for couples. The amounts may be nearly twice that much if you are disabled, have caring responsibilities or certain housing costs such as mortgage interest payments.
If you don’t ask you don’t get !!!
