Scheme To Help 'Lone' Pensioners Is A Hit

There has been a good response to a new scheme aimed at providing rate relief for lone pensioners - and they don't always have to be living on their own to qualify for help.

The Lone Pensioner Allowance was introduced on 1 April 2008 by NI's Land & Property Services and already, more than 1,500 applications have been received.

Staff are issuing approximately 1,000 application forms per day and this does not include ones that may have be issued by the advisory sector and downloaded from websites.

To date more than 11,000 forms have been issued, which has been welcomed by the Finance Minister Peter Robinson, who said: "I am delighted with the response this scheme has generated. I would like to see as many older people as possible benefiting from rating relief."

Noting that even those who are not 'alone' can apply too, he continued: "While the Lone Pensioner Allowance aims to help those who are aged 70 or over, and who live alone, there are circumstances in which people may be entitled to this rate relief even if they do not live alone.

"I would urge anyone with older relatives or friends who might be entitled to the Lone Pensioner Allowance to make sure that they know about this help and how to apply."

He said the Land & Property Services is very keen to encourage take up of this scheme.

As well as including an information leaflet with all rates bills, the scheme has been advertised in numerous ways including posters in all rates offices, GP surgeries, credit unions and the advisory sector.

Minister Robinson continued: "I am aware of the poor record around rate relief among the elderly, particularly those in the owner occupied sector.

"I made it clear during the recent review of the rating system that I want to see what extra help we can give to the most vulnerable in society, especially the elderly.

"While the Lone Pensioner Allowance goes some way to address this issue, there is still a job of work for the Department to do.

"To ensure that as many ratepayers as possible receive the rating relief to which they are entitled I have asked LPS to consider and develop plans to implement relevant recommendations from a recent study.

"This study was commissioned by DFP Rating Policy Division, and produced by the Voluntary Sector, and made recommendations to increase the take up of the full range of available rating relief," he concluded.

A special team has also been set-up within Land & Property Services to deal with all aspects of work relating to Lone Pensioner Allowance.

(BMcC)