Bruce urges pensioners to claim benefits

6.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Jun 2007

The process for claiming Pension Credits is overcomplicated - Bruce

Following the release of a new study which claims one in three older people in the UK believe their quality of life has worsened in the last year, Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce is encouraging more older people to claim these benefits and credits they're entitled to.

A report by Help the Aged has highlighted that although over half of all pensioners are entitled to one or more means-tested benefit, the complicated and bureaucratic process is leaving over £4 billion unclaimed each year. The most recent figures suggest that over 20% of pensioners are not claiming their credits.

Commenting, Mr Bruce said:

"The government's benefits system is clearly overcomplicated, and the excessive paperwork involved is putting pensioners off claiming entitlements.

"Organisations such as Help the Aged offer pensioners clear and impartial advice about claiming credits, and I urge my older constituents in Gordon to contact them for the information needed to make this complicated process a little easier."