Encouraging Take-Up Benefits by Pensioners: ReportThere are nearly 260,000 pensioners in Northern Ireland, and it is projected that this number will rise to 314,000 by the year 2021, representing one fifth of the population. It is estimated that, at present, about 81,000 pensioners live in households in the bottom 30 per cent of gross household income. Despite the fact that many pensioners have a high level of dependency on benefits, many fail to claim their entitlements due to a number of inter-linking factors. This report examines the activities of the Department for Social Development (through the Social Security Agency, the Housing Executive and a range of other organisations) to tackle the problem of low take-up levels. |
Contents
Executive Summary | 7 |
Defining Pensioner Poverty | 11 |
Action to Improve Takeup of Entitlements | 14 |
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Common terms and phrases
Age Concern Attendance Allowance Belfast Belfast city centre benefit entitlements benefit take-up benefit uptake benefits advice benefits system Britain carers cent Centres Citizens Advice Bureaux claim line claiming benefits complexity Department for Social Disability Living Allowance Eaga Partnership Ltd elderly eligible pensioners encouraging pensioners entitled to benefits entitled to Minimum estimated Family Resources Survey Help the Aged home visits Homes Grant Scheme improve take-up Income Guarantee campaign Income Support Ireland Audit Office leaflets mail-shots means-tested Minimum Income Guarantee National Audit Office Northern Ireland Audit outreach paragraph 1.6 Pension Advisers Pension Credit pensioner households pensioners in Northern pensioners to take potential claimants potentially entitled Rate Collection Agency Rate Rebate Research Retirement Pension Social Security Agency social security benefits Take-up campaigns take-up initiatives take-up levels take-up of benefits Take-up of Entitlements take-up rates University of Ulster voluntary organisations voluntary sector Warm Homes Grant Warm Homes Scheme