Citizens Advice Cornwall is urging pensioners to see if they are entitled to Pension Credit, which will also allow them to continue having a free TV licence.
This autumn, new rules came into force, which mean people aged over 75 who previously had a free TV licence will now have to pay the full licence fee unless they, or they’re partner living at the same address, are receiving Pension Credit.
In Cornwall, around 61% of people are not claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to (amounting to 6,800 pensioners), the fourth highest level in the country by local authority after Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool*.
Citizens Advice Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said:
“We know that for many people, TV is a lifeline – for entertainment, information and companionship. Many people in Cornwall could continue benefitting from a free licence by simply claiming what they are owed.”
Pension Credit is a weekly benefit based on how much money a person has coming in.
There are two parts to Pension Credit, called Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. Guarantee Credit tops-up weekly income to a minimum amount. Savings Credit is a small top-up for people who have a modest amount of income or savings and is only available if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
To check if you qualify for Pension Credit and information on how to claim, visit the Citizens Advice website at https://bit.ly/337izZE
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
1 * – Statistics supplied by Turn2Us