Cash pot of £9 million waiting to be claimed 3,000 Derby pensioners
Up to £9 million of Pension Credit is sitting unclaimed in Derby City Council's coffers - and eligible people in the city could find that, by claiming the payment, it will also open up the way to claim the winter fuel allowance.
From this autumn, older people in England and Wales not on pension credit or other means-tested benefits will not get fuel payments worth between £100 and £300.
It has been estimated that more than 3,000 people in Derby could still be eligible for Pensions Credit, which is worth on average £3,900 a year, and in turn would automatically passport them to receive the £300 winter fuel payment for households with someone aged 80 or over. Households with someone aged 66-79 would receive £200.
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Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple are eligible for the financial support. Pensioners need to be entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day between September 16 to 22 to be eligible for a winter fuel payment for this winter.
The city council is urging thousands of people - thought to be in the region of 3,406 - to apply for Pension Credit and warns that December 21 is the last date for backdating a claim for Pension Credit to 22 September. There are almost 40,000 pensioners in the city and of those it is understood that around 11,000 are already receiving.
Councillor Sarah Chambers, city council cabinet member for cost of living, equalities and communities, said: "In Derby we have £9 million unclaimed Pension Credit that pensioners are entitled to and we are working on several initiatives to reach out, signpost and support residents as a priority.
"It is crucial that all residents who want to access the winter fuel payments are aware of the recent changes, and we will be issuing information regularly on our social media platforms. Information will also be available at your GP practice, Derby city Council House reception and our Warm Welcome Hubs."
Families, friends, and neighbours are being encouraged to reach out to retired family members to encourage them to check their eligibility and apply.
On Friday, October 4, a pension advice service, where residents can access a vast array of help, support, information and advice on benefits, mental health, fire safety, help completing pension credit applications and home warmth efficiency will be taking place at the Council House from 10am to 3pm.
This is where information can be found:
Council House Reception, Warm Hubs, Cost of Living web page, GP practices and Age UK.
Information and advice booklets from Age UK have been ordered, which will be distributed via warm hubs, local community groups and places of worship.
A letter has been drafted ready to be distributed to 2,400 pensioners in receipt of housing benefits in Derby with information on how to apply for pension credit and an invitation to the pension advice service event.
The unclaimed £9 million was mentioned in the city's Council Chamber earlier this week as councillors debated a motion calling on the leader of the council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, and Ms Chambers to send a letter to the Government calling on a reversal of its decision to axe universal winter fuel allowance payments. The council's ruling Labour group tried to add an amendment to the motion calling for means-testing the allowance.
This was defeated and the Labour group decided to abstain in the final vote meaning that the motion was carried and a letter is due to be sent to the Government in the near future. The debate became quite political with Labour group members continually blaming the previous government for the financial blackhole that has led to the cancellation of the universal fuel payment.
This included two councillors - Baggy Shanker (Derby South) and John Whitby (Derbyshire Dales) - who are now MPs and voted with the Government to ward off a Conservative attempt to stop the axing of the fuel payment recently in parliament.
While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit nationwide, up to an estimated 880,000 households are eligible for the support but are not claiming it.
Despite criticism from opposition parties and unease among his own MPs, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his cut in winter fuel payments, saying "tough decisions" are needed to "stabilise the economy".
He has also said that the impact on the 10 million pensioners losing out will be softened by a 4% increase in the state pension, due next April.