NI pensioners not claiming benefits
Pensioners in Northern Ireland are not claiming the benefits they are entitled to, according to an Audit Office report.
It found one in five pensioners in NI are living in poverty.
The report found that while everyone over 65 receives a state pension, means-tested benefits, like pension credits, are more difficult to access.
Age NI said the only way of ensuring that nobody misses out is to test the eligibility of every pensioner.
The Audit Office report looked at the situation across the UK and found millions of pensioners are missing out on entitlements like housing benefit and rates relief.
Deirdre Heenan, a Professor of Social Policy at the University of Ulster, said filling out lengthy and complicated forms is a problem for many older people.
Similar entries
- House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee - Tackling Pensioner Poverty Volume I
- Complex benefits system leaving 700,000 pensioners below the poverty line
- New report proves means-testing and pensioners don't mix
- Elderly miss out on rates relief
- NI pensioners 'living in poverty'
- Benefit boost for 540,000 pensioners but millions still missing out, says Age Concern and Help the Aged
- Wilson encourages take-up of Lone Pensioner Allowance and other rate reliefs
- UK Pensioners 'missing out on £5.4bn in benefits'
- UK Poverty Statistics: Pensioner poverty
- Ritchie welcomes changes to State Pension Credit and Housing Benefit
