Community Councillor urges Mancot residents to check pension credit entitlement

Sam Swash, Labour councillor for Mancot ward on Hawarden Community Council, has joined forces with Mark Tami MP to encourage older Mancot residents to check their eligibility for Pension Credit as new figures are published showing an estimated 35 people in the ward are missing out on support.

Pension Credit is a benefit paid to pensioners who would otherwise be living in poverty. Since its introduction by the Labour Government in 2003, pensioner poverty has reduced dramatically in the UK. However, many older people are not aware they could be missing out on support.

Cllr Sam Swash said: “I am really worried that friends and neighbours in Mancot may be missing out on support they are entitled to. I would encourage any older person who isn’t getting Pension Credit to look at whether they’re entitled. It’s a quick process and it could be worth thousands of pounds per year.”

The figures are based on a calculation from the charity Independent Age, who estimated that 777 people are missing out on this help in Alyn & Deeside. Mark Tami MP, who has been working to encourage pensioners across Alyn & Deeside to take up their entitlement said “nobody should be living in poverty in the 21st century, but sadly too many older people are either due to not being aware of the support available or thinking that support is not for ‘people like me’.

“Pension Credit exists to make sure that every older person has at least enough income to live on. If you are eligible, then I would strongly encourage you to make a claim. We all pay into the system precisely so it’s there for us when we need it.”

Mr Tami has made tackling poor living standards amongst older people a priority since being re-elected, winning a change in the law worth £70m to 200,000 older people across the UK last year. “Together we can make sure that no older person is left counting out their last pennies at the end of a week to choose between having the heating on and having enough to eat. I’m grateful to Cllr Sam Swash for his work in promoting this support in Mancot.”

Claiming Pension Credit also entitles you to other benefits like the Warm Home Discount from your energy supplier, worth £140 per year. This is different from the Winter Fuel Payment which is also available to older people, but which is not means-tested.