A new approach to identify older people in need of support could see hundreds in Middlesbrough receive more financial help this winter.
Council staff will write to 750 households that could be eligible for Pension Credit, an extra amount paid by Government to assist with living costs for people on low incomes.
Those receiving Pension Credit are also entitled to receive other financial help, including support with heating bills during the coldest months.
Middlesbrough Council’s Revenues and Benefits Team have now started work to maximise the number of eligible people receiving the extra help.
And it will continue to regularly check its data ahead of the cut-off date for Pension Credit applications on December 21.
Trained staff from the Council’s Welfare Rights service will also be available to support pensioners through the application process if they cannot apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “Hundreds of households in Middlesbrough are entitled to extra financial help through Pension Credit and I’m delighted that the Council is being proactive in making sure that everyone eligible has the opportunity to claim.
“Our older population have spent a lifetime contributing to our town and I want to see them receiving all the financial support they deserve.”
Cllr Nicky Walker, Executive Member for Finance and Governance at Middlesbrough Council, said: “We are keen to ensure that people in Middlesbrough are aware of what is available and our dedicated staff have already identified around 750 who may benefit from extra financial help.
“This is a great piece of work from our staff which could make a big difference to the lives of older people in our town.”
Council staff will also have a stall at the International Older Persons event held on October 2 at Middlesbrough Town Hall, which will primarily focus on ensuring people are receiving the correct benefits.
Separately, a further round of the Government-funded Household Support Fund (HSF) is due which allows the council to distribute funding from October through to March next year.
Previously, Middlesbrough Council has made sure its scheme has benefited a wide range of people in the town, focusing on helping residents who may have ‘slipped through the cracks’ and are not in receipt of benefits or other forms of financial support.
Criteria has yet to be formally approved, but the latest round of funding will target those residents struggling with heating bills.
It comes as another Middlesbrough Council initiative proves it is making a real difference in the town.
In June, the launch of an innovative new scheme to support families in the town saw the auto-enrolment of children eligible for free school meals.
Individual families would normally have to apply separately for the support, which meant that potentially hundreds were missing out on the free meals they were entitled to, while schools missed out on extra Government funding.
The change has already seen more than 550 children enrolled, saving hundreds of families an average of £400 a year.
And it means that schools in Middlesbrough will receive around £777,000 extra in Government pupil premium funding in this school year.
Those who may be eligible to claim Pension Credit can visit the Government website by clicking here or call the Pension Credit Claim line on 0800 99 1234.
Middlesbrough Council’s Welfare Rights team also offers specialised, independent and confidential advice and you can contact them by calling 01642 729242 or emailing the team by clicking here.