News / Benefits go unclaimed
THE LOCAL Citizen Advice Bureau has called on older people in Shetland to contact its offices in Lerwick for a benefit check after national charity Age Scotland said that people aged 65 and over are losing out on millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits.
Office manager Karen Eunson said she and her team at Market Street have been supporting clients of all ages to claim the benefits they were entitled to, but they are putting particular emphasis on helping older people to gain access to a number of different benefits.
She was responding to new research from Age Scotland which revealed that three quarters of people over the age of 65 feel they do not know enough about the benefits they are entitled to, and where to go to find out more information about how to claim them.
Age Scotland’s head of policy, Adam Stachura, said millions of pounds in benefits and entitlements go unclaimed in Scotland every year.
“Our Money Matters project has identified that a third of older people are financially squeezed and could be helped if they were better informed about their entitlement options and they were able to easily access them,” he said.
“There is still too much confusion, stigma, incorrect assumptions and lack of clarity over where to find advice and support on making a benefit claim if you are older.
“Many older people think they will not be entitled to benefits either because they have some savings or have been discouraged to do so through benefits’ bad publicity.
“We know that others are put off from having to claim online, do not know the benefit exists or they expect lots of invasive questions about their bank account.”
One benefit that is under-accessed by older people is the pension credit – with four in 10 not receiving what they are entitled to, missing out on hundreds of millions of pounds.
Locally, Shetland Citizen’s Advice Bureau is trying to reach out through a programme of monthly outreach sessions in rural health centres and by giving awareness raising talks not only to groups like lunch clubs and carers groups, but also to professionals like housing support workers,
“In addition, our Energy Advice Service provides a lot of support to older people in their own homes to reduce their energy costs and to increase their income through benefit applications,” Eunson said.
“There are particular benefits specifically for those over 65. Since 1 April 2018, we have supported over 65s to gain £94,033 in Attendance Allowance and £25,470 in Pension Credit.
“We would encourage local folk to contact us at CAB on 01595 694696, or to come along to one of our sessions in rural health centres.
“Home visits can also be arranged if required. We can check if you might be entitled to any benefits and then one of our advisers can help you to fill in the form.”
Meanwhile, Age Scotland’s free helpline is available to people over the age of 50, their families and carers on 0800 12 44 222. It is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
It helped to secure £587,000 in unclaimed benefits for older Scots last year.
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