CSPA is supporting the campaign by Independent Age and Age UK calling on the UK Government to publish an ambitious, comprehensive strategy to improve the take-up of social security entitlements. Millions of pounds in support intended to help older people are going unclaimed every year, while many pensioners continue to struggle with rising living costs and financial insecurity.
Too many older people are missing out on benefits and entitlements they are eligible to receive. Current figures show that only 62% of those entitled to Pension Credit are claiming it, while hundreds of thousands of pensioner households are also missing out on Housing Benefit and other forms of support. As a result, significant amounts of financial assistance remain unclaimed by those who need it most.
Independent Age and Age UK are calling for a Government-led take-up strategy that sets clear targets for improvement, measures progress, and ensures accountability. They argue that efforts to increase take-up should be person-centred, system-wide, data-powered and evidence-led. This would help Government departments, local authorities and charities work together more effectively to identify those missing out on support and make claiming easier.
The case for action is compelling. Research shows that increasing take-up of key pension-age entitlements could lift hundreds of thousands of older people out of poverty while reducing pressure on health and social care services. Better access to financial support can improve health outcomes, reduce isolation, and help people afford essentials such as heating, food and housing costs. Estimates suggest that improving take-up could save health and care services close to £1 billion each year.
CSPA believes that older people should receive the help to which they are entitled without having to navigate complicated processes or overcome unnecessary barriers. We therefore welcome the work of Independent Age and Age UK and support their call for a national take-up strategy that ensures every eligible person can access the support available to them. Improving take-up is not only the right thing to do for pensioners, it is also a sensible investment that can reduce poverty, improve wellbeing and strengthen communities across the UK.
For more information, read Raising Take-up: A Template Strategy to Increase the Take-up of Social Security Entitlements from Independent Age and Age UK.
Raising take-up: A template strategy to increase the take-up of social security entitlements | Independent Age
