The Council’s Welfare Rights Service ‘Missing Benefits’ project has already helped to generate over £150,000 in extra benefits for people in the short time it has been running.
And early findings suggest 90% of those who apply for a missing benefits assessment are missing out on one benefit or another, with older people in particular missing out on Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance.
Pension Credit is designed to top-up any pension income to a minimum of £201.05 per week for a single pensioner and £306.85 for a couple.
Attendance Allowance can be worth up to £101.75 per week and can be paid when people find it difficult to manage their personal care or their safety
is at risk, for example, due to falls, general frailty or dementia.
All this is in addition to any Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support to help with rent and council tax bills.
Councillor Louise Miles, Cabinet Member for Resources said: ‘It’s vital people act now to check they’re not missing out on benefits to which they’re entitled and which could really help them with daily living costs, especially during the current cost of living crisis.
‘This project has already discovered people are missing out on more than £150,000 in benefits and it’s aiming to deliver £1.9 million in benefit gains to city residents over the next 12 months.
‘I’d urge everyone to take a moment and check if they could be one of those who are missing out, it could transform your household finances, especially during these difficult times.’
If you think you or a family member or friend could be missing out then call 07989 854392 or email wrs.missingbenefits@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
There is also a ‘missing benefits’ portal on the council’s website (all you need do is type in ‘missing benefits’) through which people can access a missing benefits assessment.
