Very unreasonable: Last nights news 8 0ut 0f 10 poor pensioners dont claim what they are entitled to.

[GabbyLoggon]

This is an oft-repeated bit of research. Apparently 8 out of 10 poorer pensioners do not claim all they are entitled to.

REASONS.....it is said are (l) the "system" is complicated." (which it is)

(2)  They dont know they are entitled. 

 (3)  They are too proud, and think the government will ask a lot of personal questions. 

I get annoyed about it; because it comes up every year with pensioners going to bed easrly to keep warm. And sitting in front of one bar fire in winter with 2 0r 3 jumpers on.

Of course there are a lot of wealthy pensioners; but I am writing about the ones who are struggling.

At all age groups we are a very divided country;

I think the Government could f=do more to raise awareness of pensioners entitlements. Might suit them not to as it saves them money. If i knew a pensioner struggling i would do everything i could to make sure they got their full whack.

Good on you, NiceNot.

It is true that the government save money on the non-claimers

And they should do more to help pensioners gain their entitlements.

Peeople Like AGE CONCERN do a lot of work in this area, Also the CAB

The paperwork is too ridiculous. My siblings and I have had to help my parents with the forms, being in their 80s. If people don't have family or good friends to help, they won't do the form. The census was sending my poor dad into a tizzy!

Point taken, Robins. The government need todo more to help older people claim their dues.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be cheaper to just pay benefits advisers to go round people's houses and help them fill in there forms than paying for all advertising etc.

Age Concern has some dodgy practices, did you know? There was a thing a wile ago about it. If you ring up asking about say, getting a will drawn up they will point you to a sponsored law firm, who will charge you more than average rate!

Any benefits type forms are ridiculous. I used to regularly have to help young people fill out JSA and IS forms as they were so complicated. Despite this, I recently filled out my MA form wrong. Oops. Got it returned to me as I had put dates in the wrong boxes.

You need quite a high standard of literacy and numeracy to fill in these forms, good eyesight and the confidence to not get muddled by the fact that they regularly ask the same question two or three times! They are not at all suitable to the kinds of groups who actually need to fill them in.

Thats true VJ....Are you reading this Dave in Downing Street.?

My Dad used to fill out benefits forms for pensioners, via his church. He was in his late seventies .