'Pension Credits'

On Sunday November 9th I took part in South Shields' annual Remembrance Day Parade, with the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors and other Civic Dignitaries.

We were there to honour the memories of those who died in not just World War 1 and World War 2, but also other, later conflicts.

As we marched through the town, with the TS Collingwood Sea Cadets, the South Shields Royal British Legion, the South Shields Salvation Army, the 205(3DVA) Battalion of the Royal Artillery and many others, I began to think about what we give back to the senior members of our communities, how we repay our pensioners, who have contributed so much to make our society what it is today.

The new Pension Credit is one initiative which Labour has introduced to help our pensioners.

Pension Credit is designed to top up pensioners' income to a minimum level. This means that everyone over 60 is guaranteed a minimum income of £102.10 if they are single, and £155.80 per week if they have a life partner, husband or wife.

Even better than this, however, is the news that for the first time, people aged 65 and over will be rewarded for some of the savings and income they have set aside themselves for their retirement.

With Pension Credit, money will be given to people who have saved, even if those savings amount to just a small nest egg. Single pensioners could receive up to £14.79, or £19.20 if married or with a partner.

In the past, people who had managed to save even a little were no better off than those who had not saved at all. Pension Credit is designed to change this.

What worries me however is the number of pensioner households who are not claiming the financial benefits that they are entitled to. Of the 134,000 households that are eligible for Pension Credit in the North East, only 92,000 have applied, or are currently receiving Pension Credit payments. These households benefit from an average of £28 per month in Pension Credit, money that in the past they would not have received. I want all eligible households, especially all of those in South Shields, to receive the money that they are entitled to by right.

Even more worrying, the Department for Work and Pensions estimates that nationally up to 36% of pensioners entitled to Income Support, up to 15% of those entitled o Housing Benefit, and 36% of those entitled to Council Tax benefit are currently not taking advantage of these entitlements.

Also, did you know that pensioner households are entitled to extra help as the weather gets colder?

Winter can be a particularly stressful time for older people as budgets are stretched to cope with the extra costs of the festive season, as well as increased heating and fuel bills as the temperature drops.

Thanks to the Government, pensioners can now get help with winter heating costs with the £200 Winter Fuel payment (£300 in households where someone is over 80). Extra cold weather payments can also be made in certain circumstances.

And Warm Front Grants, which provide money towards installation of central heating and home insulation, can also help our pensioners.

This winter, I want all pensioners in South Shields to receive the financial help that they are entitled to. So, if you think that you, or a grandparent, neighbour or friend may be entitled to some of these payments, call one of the helplines below and make sure our pensioners are getting the extras that they deserve.

Pension Credit Application/Help Line: 0800 99 1234
Winter Fuel Payments: 08549 151 515
Warm Front Grants: 0800 316 6011
Age Concern: 0800 00 99 66