'More than 1,600 Northampton pensioners missing out on free TV licence by not claiming benefit'

More than 1,600 retired adults in Northampton are missing out on a free TV licence by not claiming Pension Credit, according to a poverty charity.

Turn2us research has found that 1,664 pensioners in the borough are losing out on payments potentially worth hundreds of pounds a week.

In South Northamptonshire and Daventry, 522 and 501 retirees respectively have not claimed the benefit - with 589,491 nationally.

Welfare benefit expert Anna Stevenson said: “Pension Credit is a lifeline for older people stuck on low incomes in retirement, and now it is the only route to getting a free TV license. So it is more important now than ever to claim it.

“The extra income, and so called ‘passport-benefits’ that Pension Credit unlocks, can go a long way to helping many older people keep their head above water and avoid being pulled into poverty.

“We urge everyone of pension age to use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator and find out if you are entitled to Pension Credit then make that claim.

Since August 1, the BBC introduced a new concessionary TV licence scheme for people aged 75 and over, if they are in receipt of Pension Credit.

However, it is estimated that only 61 per cent of people in the UK actually claim their entitlement to Pension Credit, meaning that hundreds of thousands of pensioners are currently missing out and will lose their free TV license as a result.

As of March 2019, there were 4.6 million free TV licences in the UK, accounting for 17.6 per cent of all TV licences.

If everyone claims their Pension Credit, then around 1.5 million households with a pensioner over the age of 75 would have a free TV license moving forward as well as a potentially significant weekly payment.

Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion Guy Opperman said: “Currently, 1.5 million older people across Great Britain receive extra financial help through Pension Credit.

"But there are still a significant number of older people who might be missing out.

“We’re keen to get the message out there that everyone should claim the benefits they’re entitled to and I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible for Pension Credit to check.

“It only takes a few minutes for people to check that they are getting all they’re entitled to. Visit gov.uk/pension-credit or call 0800 99 1234.”