Half of pensioners still missing out on hundreds of pounds of state benefits, new research reveals. Failure to claim State benefits worth hundreds of pounds a year is continuing to squeeze the income of more than half of pensioners, according to the latest figures from specialist retirement intermediary Just Retirement Solutions.
Its 2012 survey of clients found that 23 per cent were failing to claim any benefit they were entitled to, losing an average of £655 income each year with the highest amount unclaimed £3,631 a year. In addition, 33 per cent who were claiming some benefit were not receiving their full entitlement, with £213 a year on average lost and the highest amount unclaimed £2,365 a year.
The research also shows that many of those not claiming benefits to which they are entitled were living in houses of around the average value, suggesting many of those losing out perhaps believe the fact they own property rules them out of receiving benefits. This tallies with official data that shows owner-occupiers are less likely to claim than those renting, and pensioner couples are less likely to claim than single (male or female) pensioners.
This is the third year that Just Retirement Solutions has produced its State benefits research and the numbers failing to claim continue to increase.
"Many pensioners are struggling to make ends meet due to insufficient pension income and depressed savings returns," said Stephen Lowe, Just Retirement's group external affairs and customer insight director.
"At the same time they are missing out by failing to claim the benefits they should be receiving, often to the tune of hundreds of pounds each year that could make a real difference to their quality of lives."
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