I am pleased to support this campaign from the charity Independent Age.
The percentage of the population of retirement age in East Lothian is higher than the Scottish average. That means there are a significant number of pensioners in East Lothian who are not getting all the benefits they are entitled to. Pension credit not only tops up your pension for the least well of pensioners in society, but it can also open up entitlements to other benefits such as Housing Benefit, help with Council Tax, free NHS dental treatment, help with fuel bills and meeting the costs of a loved one’s funeral.
The UK’s state pension system is not fit for purpose, but while the system is in place, it is imperative that Pensioners across these islands are made aware of, and given the opportunity to apply for the benefits to which they are rightly entitled from a system they have paid in to all of their working lives.