Falkirk Council: Help find the 1,600 pensioners who don’t have access to pension credit

Any pensioner who has an income of less than £182.60 or £278.70 for a couple is eligible for pension credit.

But if you receive Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Allowance and other benefits, they do not count towards your income.

Councilor Alf Kelly, Falkirk Council Elderly Champion, said: ‘It is important that we find these people, our friends and neighbours, before the end of August as they will receive the additional payment of £124 in plus the £200 for the second government. Payment of the cost of living if they benefit from the pension credit.

“Getting the pension credit, even just £1, also gives other help like rent discount, council tax reduction, free TV license for over 75s and much more . So don’t think it’s not worth it – it can make a big difference.

He urged people to find out if relatives or friends are receiving all the benefits due to them and said help was available by contacting Age Scotland Free Phone 0800 12 44 222 or Falkirk Council on 01324 506070 and asking for the services team.

The adviser added: ‘Help them by getting in touch with these numbers to check if they should benefit from the higher retirement rate. We need to find the missing 1600.

“Don’t let any senior in our region, or anywhere else, have to choose between heating or eating this winter.”