Residents supported to access over £712,000 in targeted benefit campaign

Pensioners across Denbighshire have gained over £712,000 in unclaimed benefits during 2024. The Council has been running a campaign to encourage pensioners to find out about the Pension Credit they may be missing out on, with residents being supported by Citizens Advice Denbighshire to help with applications and carry out income maximisation checks.

So far, 98 residents have benefited, with £152,741 Pension Credit claims however, other benefits including Attendance Allowance, Council Tax Reduction, State Pension, Housing Benefit, Energy Advice, and Personal Independence Payment have also been identified as a result of full benefit checks.

Pensioners on a low income are being urged to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December deadline to receive the Winter Fuel Payment. The value of the Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for people born between 23 September 1944 and 22 September 1958, and £300 for those born before 23 September 1944 as well as any backdated Pension Credit arrears where applicable.

Pension Credit provides crucial support to older people on low incomes, topping up their income to a minimum of £218.15 a week for single people or £332.95 for couples. More people are being urged to check whether they qualify for the benefit, worth on average, £3,900 a year and unlocks additional support including Council Tax, healthcare and if you’re aged 75 or over, a free TV licence. It’s estimated that around £117m in Pension Credit alone goes unclaimed each year in Wales.

Two letters have already been sent to local pensioners by the Council to highlight the support available and encourage applications as well as follow-up telephone calls and partnership engagement.

Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets at the Council said:

"I’m delighted the campaign has resulted in thousands of pounds of unclaimed benefits being identified to help pensioners in Denbighshire. Through proactive data and campaigns, we’re helping more people access the money they’re entitled to, making a real difference to households.

Claiming Pension Credit is important because it acts as a gateway to other entitlements. Some people may only be eligible to claim a few pounds in Pension Credit so feel it's not worth claiming, but they should consider the bigger picture as it opens the door to a lot of further support including the Winter Fuel Payment.”

Julie Pierce, Acting Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Denbighshire commented:

“We’re really pleased the campaign has helped so many pensioners across the county. Many people are really worried about their heating bills at this time of year, so I’d really encourage pensioners to contact Citizens Advice to seek support before the 21 December.

The campaign has made a real difference to people’s financial stability, resulting in improvements in health and mental wellbeing. One resident visited our office to see if he might be eligible for any additional support. A benefits check indicated he could be entitled to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction. Citizens Advice Denbighshire called the Pension Credit claim line and helped with his claim. However, during the eligibility check, it was discovered that he had an unclaimed private pension he was unaware of. He discovered he had a private pension lump sum of just under £60k and an annual pension of £11k. Obviously this meant he no longer qualified for any means-tested benefits, but he was overjoyed with the outcome.”

You can find out if you’re eligible for Pension Credit and how much you could get by using the pension calculator - www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator.  If you’re unsure if you are eligible, or would like help and support with your application, please contact Citizens Advice Denbighshire on 01745 346 775 or visit www.cadenbighshire.co.uk/get-in-touch. Alternatively, claims can be made online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.