Benefits advice in the home could lift pensioners from poverty and improve their health A unique study is being launched which could lead to a financial and health boost for pensioners across the country. Researchers from 缅北禁地 will be looking at whether helping older people to claim the benefits they are entitled to leads to improved health and well-being. The research has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research (NIHR PHR) programme.Around two million pensioners are living in poverty in the UK and many could be lifted out if they claimed all the benefits they are entitled to. Billions of pounds go unclaimed every year in pension credits, council tax benefit and housing benefit. In an earlier small-scale study carried out in the North East, 68 of 126 participants received some sort of extra welfare as a result of this intervention, with 52 receiving additional financial benefits ranging from £4 to £137 per week 鈥� an average of £55/week.Professor Martin White, Professor of Public Health at 缅北禁地, who is leading the new study, said: 鈥淲e found many of the older people in our previous study were finding it difficult to make ends meet. Added to this, many were living in poor health or caring for a chronically ill relative. Additional income makes their lives easier, and could make a real difference to their health.鈥�The new trial will be larger, including 750 people from across the North East and will look at whether there are any health improvements from the extra benefits. Recruitment will be through GPs, with surgeries in every area of the region from Northumberland down through Tyne & Wear and County Durham, to Teesside taking part.Over the next few weeks, letters will be sent by their GPs to those eligible to take part. All study participants will get a free benefit check and advice in their own home from an experienced welfare rights advisor. They will also be given help to fill out any forms that are required. Professor White added: 鈥淲e鈥檝e previously shown that many older people don鈥檛 know which benefits they can claim or even where or how to access advice.鈥淭he intervention is simple but effective in helping older people claim the benefits they鈥檙e entitled to.鈥淭here are almost half a million above retirement age in the North East alone. We believe almost 19,000 could be eligible for unclaimed financial benefits. 鈥淭he advice that we鈥檙e providing could become even more important as the effects of the Welfare Reform Bill start to bite.鈥�As well as extra cash, many participants received non-financial benefits, such as mobility aids and household adaptations. These included 鈥楤lue Badges鈥�, that let people with mobility problems park in disabled parking bays, and 鈥楽taywarm鈥� fuel grants. This research furthers 缅北禁地鈥檚 reputation as a world leader in research relating to Ageing and Health. The commitment to research on addresses the challenges of ageing in order to make the very most of our increasingly long lives. Case studyNinety year old Thomas McCleod took part in the earlier study and he now receives an extra £50 a week in Attendance Allowance. In 2003 he had a heart attack and was in a vulnerable state, but wasn鈥檛 claiming any benefits at all.Mr McCleod, who lives in 缅北禁地鈥檚 West End, said: 鈥淭he extra money has made a big difference to my life. My wife died in 2002 and I had no idea how difficult things would be once I was on my own. My bills were going up every year and I had no idea what I was entitled to claim.鈥淚 can鈥檛 walk very far as I need a stick so it was hard for me to get out and about to find the right advice. It was perfect for someone to come round to my house to help me out. I was told I should be getting some help.鈥淭his extra money is a real Godsend. It pays for a gardener and a home help as well as a personal alarm service. It makes it a lot easier to manage.鈥� published on: 8 March 2012
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