Over 1,000 households in Twickenham missing out on pension credit

12.55.20pm GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

New figures released today by Liberal Democrat London Assembly member, Dee Doocey, have revealed that hundreds of local pensioners are missing out on pension credit payments.

According to the Government's own figures only 70% of people entitled to this money are currently claiming it. In Twickenham that would mean that 1,036 pensioner households are failing to receive money due to them. Dee Doocey has called on the Government to introduce a new Citizen's Pension which would take millions of pensioners off means-tested benefits.

Dee Doocey said:

"Pensioners continue to get a bad deal from this Government. Schemes such as the Pension Credit are complex and confusing. Rather than forcing pensioners to apply for means-tested benefits the Government should be making sure that every pensioner gets a good basic pension.

"In the last few months take-up of Pension Credit has plummeted. It looks increasingly likely that the Government will miss its own target. Even if this is achieved, one in five pensioners will still not be getting money that is rightfully theirs. The Government's own figures would suggest that hundreds of local pensioners are not getting money to which they are entitled.

"Under the current system it is often people who have taken time out of paid employment to look after family members who are the worst off. A Citizen's Pension would mean that every pensioner would receive an adequate basic pension and people would not be penalised for saving for their retirement."