WEST Devon pensioners have been advised by the Citizens' Advice Bureau for Tavistock and Okehampton to act now and get the money they could be entitled to. The bureau warned pensioners last week, who are missing out on money to help pay basic household bills, to act now and beat the deadline for claims. Official estimates suggest that up to four in ten pensioners entitled to pension credit money, paid to top up the basic state retirement pension of £87.30 a week, are not getting the extra cash they are due. Mandy Kenyon of West Devon CAB said many pensioners assume they do not qualify, or are daunted by the prospect of making a claim. But in making a claim for pension credit they could increase their income to £119.05 a week for a single person or £181.70 a week for a couple. She said: 'If they claim now, some could also get a substantial lump sum, as payment can currently be backdated for up to a year. But this will change from October if government plans to cut the backdating period to only three months go ahead.' Citizens' Advice is also urging people over 60 who have not received a winter fuel payment to check their entitlement before Monday, March 31 — deadline for making claims. Most pensioners receive the £200 payment, £300 for those over 80, automatically, but some people need to make a claim. Most men aged 60 to 65 who are still working are likely to be in this category. Citizens' Advice director of policy, Teresa Perchard, said: 'With higher council tax bills dropping through many people's letterboxes on top of huge hikes in the price of gas, electricity and other household bills, many pensioners are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet. Yet billions of pounds that should be helping them is going unclaimed every year. 'We would urge anyone over 60 to check what they should be getting without delay.' For more information about pensions and benefits contact West Devon Citizens' Advice Bureau on 01837 52574 for Okehampton or 01822 612359 for the Tavistock. More details can be found on the Citizens' Advice website at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk">www.adviceguide.org.uk or on the pension service website, http://www.thepensionservice.org.uk">www.thepensionservice.org.uk
