We have partnered with Age UK North Tyneside and Citizens Advice North Tyneside to offer free and confidential benefit entitlement checks to pensioners in the borough.
In July, the government announced changes to the eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel payments which means not everyone of State Pension age will be eligible this Winter.
In North Tyneside not everyone eligible for Pension Credit and other qualifying benefits are currently claiming.
To address this, the partnership has come together to offer free advice and support to those residents to ensure everyone who can claim is signed up ahead of the 23 September deadline.
The eligibility checks will be personalised to each resident’s circumstances and all information provided is strictly confidential.
Cllr Karen Clark, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at North Tyneside Council, said: “We know that many pensioners may be reliant on Winter Fuel Payments each year and that the recent changes to entitlement have caused concern for some.
“By partnering with these local charities we’re keen to ensure that everyone is aware of the changes and has the opportunity to check their eligibility for claiming qualifying benefits ahead of the cut-off in September.
“I’d encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to contact one of the charities to get their free entitlement check as soon as they can.
Residents can use the code Winterfuel40 when contacting either charity for a free and confidential benefit entitlement check to ensure they do not miss out on potential entitlement to a Winter Fuel Payment.
Citizens Advice North Tyneside can be contacted on its advice line for free on 0808 278 7822. They’re open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If they’d prefer, they can email for a call back within 24 hours at a time that’s convenient for them: https://www.ntcab.org.uk/get-advice/email-us-for-a-generalist-ringback/
Age UK North Tyneside can be contacted on 0191 280 8484 or email enquiries@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm. You can visit us at Bradbury Centre, 13 Saville Street West, North Shields, NE29 6QP, or get in touch online at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside/about-us/contact-us/.
More information on the support available in North Tyneside for the cost of living, including the Poverty Intervention Fund, is available here.
