West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has urged local pensioners to check that they are getting all the support they need as the rising cost of living impacts on households across the county.

Pensioners could access an extra £3,300 of support but many don’t know that they qualify for this assistance. Many households are facing rising costs of energy which will impact on bills through the summer and into the winter.

The Government has implemented a £9.1 billion support scheme but pensioners are able to access other support to top up their pensions – and some aren’t claiming their full entitlement.

Nationally, 850,000 haven’t claimed for the full support and it is estimated that a quarter of pensioners in West Worcestershire aren’t getting the cash top-up to their pensions which will help with bills, entitle them to council tax reductions and allow them to get free TV licences.

Harriett said:

“Many households are already facing rising bills and I’m naturally keen to make sure that local people are able to access all the support that they are entitled to.

“The Household Support Fund is designed to help the most vulnerable families in society and the Citizens Advice Bureau is allocating targeted support to those who need it most.

“But figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that up to a quarter of pensioners are not accessing the full amount of support that they are entitled to, and I am encouraging these people, and those who care for elderly parents or relatives, to make sure they carry out a check this summer.”

Pension Credit can be claimed online, over the phone or by post. More information can be found at www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the free Pension Credit hotline on 0800 991234.