Unclaimed benefits of £70 million sparks creation of Highland poverty and equality commission as Highland Council says 3000 people could claim pension credits and get winter fuel payments
Highland Council has set out its intention to help thousands of people access an estimated £70 million of unclaimed benefits that includes pension credits impacting 3000 people who could otherwise have received winter fuel payments.
Independent research shows that there is an estimated total of £70 million of unclaimed benefits in the Highland area, including £6.9 million unclaimed pension credits.
One of the first acts of Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves was to gut the winter fuel payment programme by only allowing those on pension credits to claim the money, sparking a knock-on effect in Scotland.
The Highlands with its longer, harsher winters, the second highest rate of fuel poverty in the UK after the Western Isles and high number of elderly people was disproportionately affected.
The move means that thousands of people across Highland are currently missing out on additional financial help they are entitled to so securing these sources of income will support people to live independently and well in their communities.
So as part of its budget, Highland Council announced that it would be setting up the Highland poverty and equality commission with in person contact for those who should be claiming but do not.
Convener Bill Lobban added: “We are proposing the establishment of a Commission, funded by £0.300m of Reserves, to accelerate our approach to tackling poverty by identifying direct actions to shape service delivery, improve early intervention and develop integrated approaches to tackling poverty and inequality in Highland. The work would also link to other Council Delivery Plan themes such as employability, housing and health and wellbeing.”
Leader of the Council Raymond Bremner said: “Our proposed investment programme would target £0.870m to deliver direct support and consider ways to improve our collective approach to tackling poverty and inequality in the Highlands. This will be supported by increased funding of £0.250m to support new posts in existing Welfare services to help people draw down more of their entitled benefits.
“Proposals also include investing £0.320m to increase the provision of Pupil Equity Funding direct to schools and to provide targeted support within schools and the wider community to support those families experiencing poverty, as well as maximising the take-up of unclaimed welfare benefits.”
