Millions in Benefits Unclaimed in Stoke-on-Trent

Citizen’s Advice reports that approximately £8 million in benefits remains unclaimed within Stoke-on-Trent. The charity has been collaborating with the city council since September of last year, actively contacting residents who qualify for various benefits but have not yet applied for them. This initiative includes holding advice sessions at community centres and care homes. Data from Stoke-on-Trent City Council indicates that over 5,000 families have received assistance in claiming benefits totaling around £1.7 million to date. Following the government’s decision to implement means-testing for Winter Fuel Payments, Citizens Advice is now concentrating its efforts on enrolling eligible older individuals for pension credit payments. Securing pension credit automatically confers eligibility for winter fuel payments. Sam Hubbard of Citizen’s Advice explains that the reasons for residents in the city not claiming benefits are diverse. Some individuals require assistance with the administrative aspects of what can be a complex form-filling procedure. Ms. Hubbard identified a major obstacle as the difficulty in persuading older people to claim, often due to pride, even when they meet the eligibility criteria. “I think a lot of it is the stigma,” she stated. “We’ve had several years of – if you’re claiming benefits, you’re a scrounger or a shirker.” Steven Griffiths, a resident of Bentilee, described the Money MOT workshops as a vital resource and a significant aid for him as a pension credit claimant. He allocates the funds received towards his gas and electricity expenses and to heat his residence, stating his preference not to draw from his pension pot. He is encouraging other individuals, particularly those who no longer qualify for winter fuel payments, to utilize the service. “They’ve got to get help. Places like this, won’t turn them away,” he commented. The Work and Pensions department previously sent correspondence to 120,000 pensioners, urging them to apply for the pension credit they may be eligible for. This outreach occurred prior to the release of figures this week, which detailed the number of pensioners who would be impacted by the reduction in winter fuel payments. Work and pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated: “We were forced to take difficult decisions to balance the books in light of the £22bn black hole we inherited.” She added, “Given the dire state of the public finances, it’s right that we target support to those who need it most.” For updates, follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.