A guide to benefits for pensioners

As we grow older most of us hope that we will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement with enough cash to get us through and allow us to spend some quality time with our loved ones.

However, whilst this is something that we all aim for our finances do not always allow for it, and as millions of pensioners will know it can be difficult to stretch to buying every day necessities never mind spend money on enjoying life and spending time with family and friends.

Worryingly it is estimated that around two million pensioners in the UK are living below the poverty line, and this is severely restricting the amount of cash that these pensioners have available to spend on just necessities without taking any other expenditure into consideration. However, one of the problems is that many of these pensioners could be far better off financially than they actually are as a result of benefits that are available, but which they are not claiming.

Recent reports have claimed that many pensioners are failing to claim benefits to which they are entitled, and indeed pensioners are said to be the group that are most likely to miss out on benefits to which they are entitled. Often the reasons why pensioners fail to collect these benefits is because they are confusing about the benefits, unsure as to whether they are entitled to them, or in some cases not even aware that the benefit exists. However, all of these different benefits could add up to far more money in the pockets of many pensioners.

Pension credit is one type of benefit that pensioners may be entitled to, and this comes in the form of the Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. The type of credit that you may be entitled to will depend upon your age amongst other things, and is designed to top up the income of the pensioner. The amount will depend on whether you are a single person or a couple.

Another type of benefit that many pensioners end up missing out on is Council Tax Benefit [more and more]. This type of benefit is not based on the value of the home, and in fact is available to both homeowners and tenants, so you do not even have to own your home. The amount of benefit that you receive will be based on your personal circumstances, health, and other factors. Housing Benefit is another type of benefits that many pensioners may be eligible to claim, but which often goes unclaimed to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds a year.

Other benefits that pensioners may be able to claim include Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, which are designed for people of pension age who are physically or mentally disabled and need care either in the day or at night (or around the clock).

Whilst it can be confusing and difficult for pensioners to work out which of the benefits they are entitled to, there is support and help available and charities such as Help the Aged, Age Concern, and even the Citizen’s Advice Bureau are available to offer assistance and advice relating to these various benefits.

Tags: Attendance Allowance, Age Concern, pensioner benefits, Help the Aged, Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit, Council Tax Benefit