Council helps pensioners in Leeds access over £1million in unclaimed Pension Credit

News that pensioners across Leeds have been helped to access over £1million in unclaimed Pension Credit has been welcomed by senior Councillor Mary Harland.

The council’s welfare and benefits team has been working hard to promote and encourage uptake of the additional support available, including proactively contacting pensioners who may be eligible but are not currently claiming.

As a result, the team has helped at least 249 households secure Pension Credit awards with the largest being over £400 per week, money that otherwise those residents would not have received.

Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council executive member for communities, customer services and community safety, said:

“I am delighted that our welfare and benefits team has been able to bring in an extra £1million for pensioners across the city and I’d like to thank them for the work they have undertaken. This is money that people were entitled to but were not receiving, and with the biggest award being over £400 per week it is easy to see just what a difference this additional income could have for some of our most vulnerable residents.

“There are a number of reasons people don’t claim – they may not be aware they are eligible, fear of stigma, difficulty applying or language barriers – but the work undertaken by the team has shown that a targeted approach has real impact. However, there are still a number of households who have been sent letters encouraging take-up who have not responded and I would encourage everyone who is contacted by the team to get in touch so that we can help them claim any money they are entitled to.”

Notes to editors

A Pension Credit claim can be made online, by phone or by requesting a paper claim form.

https://apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk/start

Pension Credit claim phone line: 0800 991 234

For more information or to discuss any aspect of Pension Credit, a range of completely free, impartial, and confidential advice is available from the following:

Welfare Rights at Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 376 0452

Email: Welfare.rights@leeds.gov.uk

Or:

Age UK Leeds

Tel: 0113 389 3000

Email: info@ageukleeds.org.uk

Please note: It is important to make a claim as soon as possible, as it can only be backdated three months from the date the claim is made.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

Tel: 0113 378 6007