Govt 'must do more' to help funding reach non-claiming elderly

The government needs to step up its benefits system so that elderly people are getting all the money they are entitled to, according to a pair of charities.

Age Concern and Help the Aged stated the means-tested system is supposed to help lift these vulnerable individuals out of poverty but is instead becoming bogged down.

Despite the recession, it was revealed that eligible pensioners are still not claiming an average of £31 a week in pension credit alone.

The charities continued: "Despite the government campaign to encourage older people to claim, benefit take-up levels have remained stubbornly static in the past year.

"If the unclaimed £5.4 billion were put directly into the pockets of the people who need it, we would pull about half a million pensioners out of poverty at a stroke."

Last week, Age Concern and Help the Aged commented on reforms to increase pension payments, those emphasised that changes needed to be made very clear to everyone eligible.

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