GrumbleSmiles

Over the last few months, I have been researching welfare benefits entitlements in the UK.  (You can see all my earlier posts by clicking on “Welfare Benefits” in the TAG CLOUD).  

This is the fourth section which covers benefit freebies.

Free Travel Pass Graph – 96% Yes; 4% No; 0% Not Sure

You only get this when you’re eligible for State Pension and you have to apply for it.  Exactly where you can travel to depends on your Local Authority rules.  Some Local Authorities allow for free travel beyond their area (e.g. West Midlands).

Free Eye Tests Graph – 100% Yes

Perhaps not surprisingly, the take up for this is 100%.  Obviously because your optician tells you in anticipation that they are going to sell you an expensive pair of glasses.  I wonder how many people are sent away without needing glasses?

Free Prescriptions Graph – 100% Yes 

Again, everybody knows about this, presumably they are told at the doctor’s surgery.  You have to be 60 years old and look like it :-).

Hospital Travel Allowance Graph – 0% Yes; 80% No; 20% Not Sure 

This is means tested but if you qualify it should pay for your travel to and from the hospital as well as for car parking.  Some people had received reimbursement for car parking fees but otherwise you are generally expected to travel free on public transport.  This will not always be possible for people who either can’t get out of the house without assistance, or live in remote rural areas.  In those cases they should be reimbursed either for a car travel allowance or a taxi.  Hospitals seem to vary their approach on this and in some cases will also pay for carers.

Free TV Licence

This is available to people over the age of 75 and also to all pensioners if they live in sheltered housing.  You have to apply for it.  Responsibility for funding it has recently been transferred to the BBC which means the rules could change in future.

FOOTNOTE – Please note, I hasten to add that I am no expert and anyone reading this should not take my observations or figures as fact.    Hopefully before I finish this series of blogs, I will have raised awareness of some of the issues in the welfare benefits system.    If you’re intending to make a claim, you should go to one of the trusted agencies like Age UK or Citizens Advice Bureau.   

Over the last few months, I have been researching welfare benefits entitlements in the UK.  (You can see all my earlier posts by clicking on “Welfare Benefits” in the TAG CLOUD).  

This is the third section which covers the weather payments.

Winter Fuel Allowance Graph – 92% Yes; 0% No; 8% Not Sure

This is paid for as part of the State Pension system and therefore everyone should receive it automatically.   Unless they have deferred receiving their pension, in which case they have to apply for it separately.  It is awarded per household, not per person.  There is a higher level for people over the age of 80.

Cold Weather Payments Graph – 20% Yes; 60% No; 20% Not Sure

This is not as simple as the last benefit, but it is paid automatically as an addition to the State Pension.  You do not have to apply for it.  You only receive it if there are 7 consequtive days where the temperature falls below zero during the winter period in the location that you live.

Fuel Discount?

You should be able to get a £140 reduction in your fuel bills from your fuel supplier.  This isn’t part of the benefits system, but it is a reduction negotiated between the Government and the fuel suppliers (gas and electric).  It is means tested and you have to take the initiative to speak to your supplier to get it.

I’m not sure how many people are aware of this or how many actually receive it?

FOOTNOTE – Please note, I hasten to add that I am no expert and anyone reading this should not take my observations or figures as fact.    Hopefully before I finish this series of blogs, I will have raised awareness of some of the issues in the welfare benefits system.    If you’re intending to make a claim, you should go to one of the trusted agencies like Age UK or Citizens Advice Bureau.   

Over the last few months, I have been researching welfare benefits entitlements in the UK.  (You can see all my earlier posts by clicking on “Welfare Benefits” in the TAG CLOUD).  

This is the second section which covers the disability benefits.

Attendance Allowance Graph – 8% Yes; 76% No; 16% Not Sure

This benefit is paid to people who have a degree of disability.  It is means tested and there is a daytime and higher night-time allowance.  Only a few people in the group get this allowance.  Quite possibly people who do receive it may not be able to get out and about easily and therefore don’t attend the group.  This is a valuable allowance, but you may need expert help to claim it!

Carer’s Allowance Graph – 4% Yes; 80% No; 16% Not Sure

This benefit is also means tested but it is perhaps surprising that a few more people don’t receive it.

I’m not sure if you can get both Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.  The majority of carers, particularly relatives, provide assistance for free.

I think Carer’s Allowance is very under-claimed?

Disability Living Allowance Graph – 8% Yes; 76% No; 16% Not Sure 

This is only awarded to people who are disabled before they reach pensionable age.  It can’t be claimed by people who are pensioners.

It has now been superseded by Personal Independence Payments for new applicants.

Personal Independence Payments Graphs – 0% Yes; 80% No; 20% Not Sure

These are means tested benefits, which are adminstered by DHSS.

PIP was introduced in 2013 to replace DLA.  It actually only applies to people between the ages of 16 and 64.  Therefore it is not applicable to pensioners. It’s introduction has been controversial and confusing, 60% of the reviews that cut this benefit have been overturned on appeal.

FOOTNOTE – Please note, I hasten to add that I am no expert and anyone reading this should not take my observations or figures as fact.    Hopefully before I finish this series of blogs, I will have raised awareness of some of the issues in the welfare benefits system.    If you’re intending to make a claim, you should go to one of the trusted agencies like Age UK or Citizens Advice Bureau.   

Over the last few months, I have been researching welfare benefits entitlements in the UK.  (You can see all my earlier posts by clicking on “Welfare Benefits” in the TAG CLOUD).  

The whole subject is immensely confusing and not at all helped by the frequent changes in the benefit system and the “titles” of individual benefits.  More and more benefits information is promoted through the internet, which makes it less and less available to the many older people who do not use the internet.  It is no surprise at all therefore, that a large amount of welfare benefits go unclaimed by many older people who are entitled to them.

In March I carried out a survey with the help of a small group of older people in Coventry.  It was more of a focus group than a survey and I don’t pretend that it represents anything other than a sample group, which may not be representative of all older people in Coventry.  Nonetheless, the results seem to reflect the picture shown by other analysis of the subject.

The results are split into four sections:-

• Main Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Weather Payments
• Benefit Freebies

I will publish the results in these four sections over the next two weeks.