Dorset charity helps elderly people to claim £1.2 million in benefits
Age UK North, South and West Dorset have released figures
A Dorset charity have helped older people in the county to claim an extra £1.2 million in disability benefits in the last year alone.
Age UK North, South and West Dorset (NSWD) say they've supported 2,100 elderly residents.
Volunteers at their base in Crown Square in Poundbury say 52% of the enquiries they had were about disability benefits, with 48% seeking more general advice like care options, legal issues such as Power of Attorney, housing problems and scam guidance.
Age UK NSWD's Information and Advice manager Richard Bristow, said:
“Over £1 million in extra income going into the hands of local older people really makes a difference to pay for care and to keep warm. Our volunteer advisers and welfare benefit workers have done an incredible job more remarkable that for most of the year we had no office to operate from.
“Our volunteers continued to support people over the telephone and by home visit to ensure they had full access to their rights and an understanding for their responsibility so they could make informed choices."
MINIMUM INCOME GAP APPROVED BY DORSET COUNCIL
News of the benefits help secured for older people comes as many people are continuing to struggle with the rising cost of living.
This week, Dorset Council has been asked to agree the next year's 'guaranteed minimum income cap' - that's the level of money older people are left with after taking into account their council care costs.
That's supposed to cover everything from food, clothes, utility bills, insurance and other personal expenses; over and above what they contribute to their own care.
The cap's been set at 3%, which is the nationally recommended level, with Dorset Council choosing not to increase it any further.
But with inflation currently at 9%, there are concerns that the level will see some elderly people facing hardship.
Lead councillor for adult social care in Dorset, Cllr Jane Somper, told a Cabinet meeting that to put the cap up beyond the Government suggested rate would 'pose a set of risks' for the authority.
Councillors have agreed that any rising costs would have to be found through savings in the adult social budget.