Brent Council has successfully supported 148 pensioners in the Borough to receive an additional £3,837 a year in unclaimed Pension Credit payments.
This achievement followed the council’s outreach to 754 eligible households, informing them of their unclaimed entitlement to Pension Credit. A successful Pension Credit claim can have a profound impact on pensioners grappling with the challenges of the current cost-of-living crisis.
Pension Credit is known as a passport benefit, allowing those who claim unlock additional support such as a free TV Licence, Cold Weather Payments and other help. Payments can also be backdated.
Brent’s Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture, Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson said, “It is a huge achievement, however there is still £2.3million of Pension Credit unclaimed across Brent. ”
“The amount of Pension Credit claimed because of this campaign equates to nearly £7million over an average lifetime, helping ease the burden of the cost-of-living crisis for nearly 150 pensioners.
“Almost £4,000 extra a year could be the difference between eating and heating your home, and not, and its vital we continue this work to try and steer as many people away from poverty as we can.
“It is a huge achievement, however there is still £2.3million of Pension Credit unclaimed across Brent.
“I would encourage everyone to check they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to ensure every penny goes into the purses it is most needed.”
In February, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, collaborated with the social policy and data analytics firm Policy in Practice to initiate a campaign that included this work.
Deven Ghelani, Director of Policy in Practice, said: “We are delighted to have helped put £8.4million into the pockets of 2,165 pensioners across London. We are thrilled to have helped these households, who will now get almost £4,000 in additional support every year following this Pension Credit take up campaign.”
After the impressive achievement of the initial stage, the campaign plans to extend its impact during the upcoming Autumn/Winter season by encompassing as many as 23 boroughs. Brent has already committed to participating in this next phase.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This has been a hugely successful campaign that has secured more than £8million in unclaimed benefits for older Londoners on the lowest incomes, who are disproportionately feeling the cost of living squeeze.
“I am pleased that we will now be extending the scheme to thousands more older Londoners who may not know they are eligible to receive Pension Credit or how to claim it. This is part of my commitment to continue building a better and more prosperous London for everyone.”
