Council partnership helps residents claim over £600,000 in benefit

1.49.52pm GMT Sun 11th Mar 2007

Richmond Council in partnership with Age Concern and the Government Pensions Service has helped residents claim over £600,000 in unclaimed benefits in the last three years.

The Richmond Community Partnership aims to help raise awareness among residents of how to claim the money they are entitled to, and is making a renewed drive to increase the number of successful claims residents are helped to make. This intensive effort underlines the Council's determination to increase benefit take-up locally. However, some residents are currently missing out on benefits such as pension credit, income support, help with rent, Council Tax, disability benefits, disability living allowance and attendance allowance. The problem is particularly pronounced for older residents. Nationally, over one million retired people live below the Government's own definition of the poverty line, with thousands of older people who are eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee (Income Support) not making a claim.,In Richmond upon Thames, there are fears that many people are missing out on money due to them being unaware of what is on offer.

Cllr Denise Carr, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, said:

"The Richmond Community Partnership represents a pro-active effort to work with older people to increase benefit take up. We want to banish the stigma of benefit, and ensure that everyone entitled to the wide range of money on offer actually receives it. Trained officers can visit you in your home to give advice and help with making applications, or residents can make an appointment to come to the Civic Centre in Twickenham or The Sheen Lane Centre. I urge any residents who are living on restricted means to contact the Community Partnership as soon as possible."

The number to call is 020 8481 3112