More than 12,000 Glasgow pensioners missing out benefit

Just over 12,500 people who have reached retirement age are entitled to pension credit but are not receiving it according to the city’s council treasurer.

Councillor Ricky Bell announced the figures at a council meeting last week after Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr asked what the council was doing to ensure vulnerable Glasgow pensioners sign up for Pension Credit.

SNP councillor Bell said: “Glasgow has been running a project to tackle pensioner poverty since 2022 and the project involves the team contacting pensioners in the city to ensure they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to.

“As of September 2024 this project has brought almost £7 million into the pockets of 1,319 residents that have been been helped to date so far.

“Most people receive more than one benefit and with the total number of gains received standing at 2,863 and the average amount of money this project has enriched people in the city by is £5,000.”

Pension Credit is a government payment that can top up people’s pension and is available for those surviving on a low weekly income.

Councillor Bell said it is estimated that a cut to the winter fuel payment will impact three quarters of pensioners in the city, which is 60,000 residents.

He added: “We also know that over 12,500 pensioners are entitled to pension credit in Glasgow but they are not currently receiving that money.”

He told the meeting how the council alongside partners is working to ensure residents can get pension credit before the winter fuel payment ends.

The Health and Social Care Partnership Welfare Rights Team, Gain and social landlords are helping people make claims. Universal credit hubs in libraries are also involved.

Councillor Bell said he hopes “combined actions will ensure we reach as many as the 12,000 eligible pensioners as possible.”

Urging other councillors to get involved, he asked them to point people in the direction of the city projects supporting pensioners.