Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ealing Council’s initiative helps hundreds of older residents claim unreceived pension credits, providing vital financial support and easing cost-of-living pressures.
The council has identified homes that are likely to qualify for the payments by collaborating with its partners, the Greater London Authority and Policy in Practice, a social policy software business. The council has then written to the residents to encourage them to apply.
307 households have applied for assistance since December 2022, resulting in an annual increase in income of over £1.2 million.
220 additional households in the borough began to claim pension credit in the past year. It has a projected lifetime value of £14.4 million for the entire borough and is worth £1.33 million annually.
In order to keep warm and healthy during the winter, these residents also got £38,800 in winter fuel subsidies.
When you reach state pension age, a payment known as pension credit is made to supplement your income. Additionally, it can unlock additional support, such as:
- Payments for winter fuel (up to £300)
- a complimentary TV license if you are 75 years of age or older.
- Cold weather payments assist with NHS expenses such as prescription drugs, dental care, and eyewear.
In the borough, hundreds of households may still qualify for pension credit but have not yet made a claim. In September, 400 further letters urging retirees to apply were delivered by the Ealing council.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said:
“Receiving pension credit can be life changing. It helps people stay warm, eat well and live with dignity. We want every eligible resident to get the support they are entitled to.”
The council has also assisted locals in applying for other forms of financial assistance during the past 12 months.
Through the Healthy Start program, 143 households have applied for assistance, totaling £11,852 annually.
The total amount of Attendance Allowance claimed by 45 individuals is £216,580 a year, or an estimated £1.25 million during their lifespan.
Automatically signing up 182 families’ 219 children for free school lunches. This amounts to up to £695 per child annually, and it also generated an extra £500,000 in government support for the borough’s schools.
How does pension credit impact household budgets long-term?
Pension credit is guaranteed extra income that is available for necessary expenses like housing, utilities, and food, alleviating financial tensions and hardships.
Recipients will become eligible for additional support schemes (cold weather payments, winter fuel payments, and assistance with dental and optometry care) that will further help reduced household expense considerations over time.
Pension credit provides a buffer against inflation and rising energy, healthcare, and life costs, helping to ensure a more stable household budget over time.
In many cases, that extra income from pension credit guarantees many pensioners are able to remain in their home longer and do not make an early move to cheaper, less secure housing options, meaning pension credit increases long-term housing stability.
