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28/03/2002
Pensioners urged to claim all their benefit entitlements
The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, has urged pensioners to go out and claim all the social benefits to which they are entitled.
The Minister said that may pensioners could be missing out on benefits such as the Minimum Income Guarantee, formerly known as Income Support, which is paid to people aged 60 and over who have savings not exceeding £12,000 and those who have a low weekly income to live on.
In Northern Ireland, approximately 60,000 pensioners benefit from Minimum Income Guarantee.
Mr Dodds said that pensioners, unaware of this benefit, may very well be missing out on an extra £23 per week.
During the month of April the Social Security Agency will be writing to customers who have recently claimed Retirement Pension to inform them that they may be entitled to Minimum Income Guarantee.
“This is the latest in a series of steps introduced by my Department to address pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland,” Mr Dodds added.
“The A-Z Pensioners Guide which was launched last year has been very successful in helping our older people access services. A tele-claims service to help pensioners claim their retirement pension has also been introduced and a more user-friendly form for claiming Minimum Income Guarantee is now available.
The Minister added: “I have no doubt that this additional step will make a real difference to thousands of pensioners living in Northern Ireland.”
(AMcE)
The Minister said that may pensioners could be missing out on benefits such as the Minimum Income Guarantee, formerly known as Income Support, which is paid to people aged 60 and over who have savings not exceeding £12,000 and those who have a low weekly income to live on.
In Northern Ireland, approximately 60,000 pensioners benefit from Minimum Income Guarantee.
Mr Dodds said that pensioners, unaware of this benefit, may very well be missing out on an extra £23 per week.
During the month of April the Social Security Agency will be writing to customers who have recently claimed Retirement Pension to inform them that they may be entitled to Minimum Income Guarantee.
“This is the latest in a series of steps introduced by my Department to address pensioner poverty in Northern Ireland,” Mr Dodds added.
“The A-Z Pensioners Guide which was launched last year has been very successful in helping our older people access services. A tele-claims service to help pensioners claim their retirement pension has also been introduced and a more user-friendly form for claiming Minimum Income Guarantee is now available.
The Minister added: “I have no doubt that this additional step will make a real difference to thousands of pensioners living in Northern Ireland.”
(AMcE)
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