Saturday 5 September 2009

Are you getting your entitlements?

WHILE some pensioner households are getting up to £1,000 a year in pension credit, many pensioners don't claim state benefits they are entitled to – especially pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit.

Help and advice is always available at Tynedale Citizens’ Advice Bureau, which has offices in Hexham, Haltwhistle and Prudhoe.

The Tory Government under Mrs Thatcher broke the link between pensions and average earnings – which had the effect of significantly reducing the state pension over time. But this Labour Government’s pension credit scheme is actually giving pensioners more than they would get from restoring that link – and it directs the money to those most in need.

This is in addition to winter fuel allowance, free local bus travel, free NHS prescriptions, flu injections and eye tests for all pensioners as well as free TV licences for the over 75s.

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