East Dunbartonshire MP, Amy Callaghan, is calling on local pensioners to act fast to be in with the chance of qualifying for a cost of living cash boost.
To receive the payment, pensioners must be in receipt of Pension Credit. The local MP said it was “so important” that local pensioners checked to see if they were eligible for Pension Credit, and she urged family members to speak with older relatives to make sure they were not missing out.
The UK government has set a deadline of 19th December for Pension Credit applicants who will receive the additional one-off payment of £324 to help with the cost of living crisis. Anyone who applies after this date will still receive support that can be worth over £3,300 a year.
Pension Credit has one of the worst uptakes of any social security payment, with over £3 million going unclaimed in East Dunbartonshire in 2018.
There are also several social security entitlements linked to Pension Credit, such as the Warm Home Discount and free TV licenses for the over-75s. These can only be received by people in receipt of Pension Credit.
Commenting, Amy Callaghan MP said:
“There’s still time for local pensioners to claim Pension Credit and receive the additional cost of living payment. However, the deadline is fast approaching, and I’d urge all pensioners to act now.
“It’s shocking the amount of money that goes unclaimed every year. This is money that local pensioners are entitled to, and money that could make a huge difference to their lives. Given that the cost of living crisis is impacting older people more than most, it’s never been so important to increase uptake.
“I would urge everyone to check in with older relatives to make sure they’ve looked into their entitlement, and if not, to encourage them to do so.”