A new report reveals that 1.65 million pensioners are missing out on council tax reductions worth £2,392 a year – or £46 a week. Only half of eligible pensioners are claiming the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) they're entitled to, leaving £1.7bn unclaimed across England alone.
Many wrongly believe they need Pension Credit to qualify, but charity Independent Age says people just need to 'ask' to find out if they can be helped.
Pensioner's Struggle Highlighted on BBC Radio 4
The reality was highlighted on BBC Radio 4's Moneybox programme, where pensioner Valerie from the Isle of Wight revealed her struggle. "I basically kept using my credit card because that's the only way I could survive," she said.
"I never put my heating on because this house is all electric. When it's really, really, really cold I just used to stay down here at night and just curl up on the sofa."
How Council Tax Reduction Can Help
After contacting Independent Age, Valerie discovered she qualified for housing benefit and council tax relief, boosting her finances by £400 monthly. Morgan Vine from Independent Age said: "It's really important that everyone gets the money they're entitled to."
The charity warns the system is "incredibly complex and confusing" but urges pensioners to check their eligibility. Council tax reduction can slash bills to zero, potentially lifting 100,000 elderly people out of poverty.
For help, contact Independent Age on 0800 319 6789.
