'Need for automatic Pension Credits'

By Tom Farley, Fri 26 Sep 2008 - Published in Pensions

Some UK pensioners are still missing out on Pension Credits, despite the government's flagship benefit scheme being launched five years ago, a charity has claimed.

According to Age Concern, one-third of those eligible to make a claim are not, with the organisation suggesting an ingrained barrier to claiming benefits in older people as a reason.

To remedy this, the charity believes the government should introduce an automatic payment system and claims seven out of ten older people back this idea.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, commented: "It is deeply wrong that billions of pounds in benefits cash is failing to reach the poorest pensioners at a time when thousands are feeling forced to cut back on essentials such as food and fuel."

In addition, the charity also discovered 66 per cent of pensioners are reducing the amount of gas and electricity they use, 52 per cent are purchasing cheaper food and 49 per cent say they will not use as much heating over the winter.

Yesterday (September 25th), Des Hamilton, technical director at the Pensions Advisory Service, said the recent decline of stock market could reduce the amount which is held in investors' pension pots.

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