The latest message from Age UK Oxfordshire:
We were in touch in Autumn last year and shared our serious concern about the impact of the spiralling cost of living on older people and their carers, particularly those who are managing on a fixed income.
We would like to thank you for supporting the first part of our cost-of-living campaign encouraging people to check their eligibility for Pension Credit. Our helpline experienced a 27% increase in calls, which resulted in an 80% increase of benefits checks for the period October -December 2022 compared with Oct -Dec 2021.
We are getting back in touch to let you know about the second part of our campaign, focused on raising awareness of Attendance Allowance and encouraging anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply. As with Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance is not being taken up by all those who are eligible.
Attendance Allowance is paid to people who struggle with day-to-day personal care tasks and is not means-tested.
We are asking for your help to ensure that all local older people are receiving the financial support to which they’re entitled, by taking one or more of the following actions:• publicising the campaign by simply forwarding this email or incorporating the content into your own communications. You can find more information about the campaign here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/about-us/cost-of-living-campaign/
• ‘making every contact count’ by raising the issue of entitlements in your contact with older people and carers
• emphasising that these are entitlements not handouts
• using the attached information sheets to point people in the direction of the support available. You can find more information about entitlements here: Benefits and entitlements for pensioners and the elderly | Age UK
• displaying the attached poster to help inform people about Attendance Allowance
• sharing the attached Top Tips guide with those wishing to apply for Attendance AllowanceTogether, let’s make sure that local older people are receiving the benefits to which they’re entitled, helping them to cover mounting expenses.
Benefits check info sheet – Age UK Oxfordshire
Age UK Oxfordshire_Top Tips for completing an Attendance Allowance Form
Age UK Oxfordshire Attendance Allowance Poster
Please find below some really helpful information to help ensure people over pension age are accessing all the support they are entitled to.
Age UK Oxfordshire Pension Credit Poster_Individual
Cost of living payments grid – Age UK Oxfordshire
Or go to their web site https://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/
