Simon Says Check What You’re Entitled To!

Caerphilly council and Caerphilly 50+ Positive Action, are urging residents to check they are not missing out on Attendance Allowance or Pension Credit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Around 94,000 pensioners are not claiming Pension Credit and 50% of pensioners could be entitled to between £55 and £80 extra in Attendance Allowance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

So, Caerphilly 50+ Positive Action has created a new campaign called ‘Simon Says’ which highlights the importance of both allowances and how they could benefit the lives of residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly council bin lorries now display the Simon Says posters, as a new way to communicate these messages to residents who may not read a newspaper or have internet access. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Christine Forehead, Older Person’s Champion said, “Both these allowances could make a huge difference to you or someone you know. To miss out on money which you are entitled to seems preposterous, this is why both Caerphilly council and the Caerphilly County Borough 50+ forum are urging residents to ring the numbers provided. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are a staggering number of people missing out on what rightfully belongs to them and we hope by getting these messages out on the bin lorries, social media and in the local newspapers, these numbers will see a decrease.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Sustainable Development added “In recent years, an additional £4.5 million in grants and benefits has been claimed annually, by residents of the borough, who believed they were already receiving everything they were entitled to! Much of this additional money is spent in the Caerphilly borough, which ultimately helps our local economy. So it really is worth making the call.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you or someone you know is aged 65 or over and needs regular help with personal care, they could be entitled to Attendance Allowance. Remember it is NOT means tested, so it can be claimed whatever your income or savings. Simon Says…. Speak to an advisor today on 0345 6056 055. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also don’t forget to double check if you, your parent/grandparent are eligible for Pension Credit by calling 0800 991 234. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​