Provided by Mae Stewart, Editor UNISON Retired members Newsletter, Dundee, Perth and Angus. Please note that this is not definitive information about benefits but will provide a signpost as to where to get up to date information. Please check the sources first. UNISON Scotland can take no responsibility for information that may be outdated or inaccurate.

Issue 7 July 2004

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Members' Information

I attended the Pensioners Forum Conference in Glasgow this month, where I obtained the following information:

Free Central Heating - [This grant does not depend on your income.]

The Scottish Executive has issued a booklet on how you can claim free central heating if you or a partner are over 60 years of age.

You may be eligible for a grant if your home does not have a central heating system.

You may still be eligible if your home has central heating but it is completely broken and cannot be repaired.

You must own your own home or rent it from a private landlord.

If you feel you can apply then you can either write to the company who are installing the heating:

Or

Eaga Partnership Limited
Freepost
SCO 4421
Edinburgh
EH6 OBR

Or

Telephone the help line for any information you require, between 8.30am - 5.30pm [Monday to Friday] on; 0800 316 1653

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A Quick Guide to Benefit Rates for the Over 60's [from April 2004]

Age Concern Scotland issues this small pocket guide about your entitlements. Although there was no telephone number on the actual pocket reference that I picked up, Age Concern has a free help line, which may be able to provide you with one. Telephone on 0800 00 99 66

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£Millions Unclaimed - Forget Good Luck - Know Your Rights

This booklet issued by Age Concern provides a guide to claiming your benefits. Contents are:

1. Help if you have a low income - Age Concern Information Note Pension Credit [IS 14] or contact our information line
2. How to Pay less Council Tax - Age Concern Factsheet 17 and Factsheet 21
3. State Pensions - Age Concern Factsheet 19 & soc.security leaflet NP46
4. Help with Health Costs - Age Concern Info. Sheet [LC/20] & Dept. Health Leaflet HC11
5. Fuel Bills and other Costs - Age Concern Factsheet 1 and Factsheet 28 [info for telephones]
6. Illness and Disability Benefits - Age Concern Factsheet 34 - attendance allowance: 0800 88 22 00
7. Attendance Allowance - Benefits Enquiry Line on: 0800 88 22 00
8. Disability Living Allowance [DLA] - This is for people who become disabled and make a claim
9. before age 65. Benefits Enquiry Line on: 0800 88 22 00 cont:
10. If you are a carer - Age Concern Information Sheet LC/15 [Carers Allowance]
11. Concessions and help with Occasional Expenses - Age Concern Factsheet 49; 26; 3 & leaflet GL 18

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Further Information - [Age Concern]

Books -Your Rights 2004 - 2005

A Guide to money benefits for older people. Cost £4.99. Available from all good bookshops, Age Concern Offices or Age Concern online bookshop at: www.ageconcern.org.uk

Websites

www.ageconcern.org.uk - full of practical advice and support for services for over 50's

www.dwp.gov.uk - Department for Works and Pensions website

www.thepensionsservice.gov.uk - The first port of call for state and private pensions information on The web

Your Local Concern

To find your nearest Age Concern call free on: 0800 00 99 66

Pensioners' Guide - Scotland

Making the most of Government Help and Advice.

There are all sorts of help out there. It's a question of knowing where to find it.

Having scanned through this booklet I think it would be a most useful tool in working towards getting your correct entitlements.

There are many topics and many helpful telephone numbers. I would recommend that you get yourself this booklet.

The Scottish Executive, The Pensions Service, part of the Department of Work and Pensions, issue it. Some of the information could apply to those under pension age as well, so you could pass it on to your younger friends/family, there might just be something in it for them.

If you are writing post your request for the above booklet [isbn number 1-84388-23-7] to;

Pensioners Guide
FREEPOST
NAT12444
Gerrards Cross
SL9 0BR

Remember to say it is the Pensioners Guide SCOTLAND [England and Wales are different]

General enquiries to: 0845 6060 265

This Booklet on the Internet: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/retired

General Website: www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

Energywatch [your gas and electricity watchdog]

You may be entitled to free services from your energy supplier if you are: Of pensionable age. Living with disabilities, chronic sickness, or have a visual or hearing impairment.

Special services are provided through a scheme known as the Priority Service Register [PSR]. To obtain this information/assistance contact energywatch on: 0845 906 0708

Email: enquiry@energywatch.org.uk

Website: www.energywatch.org.uk

Address: Energywatch
4^th Floor, Artillery House
Artillery Row
London - SW1P 1TRT

A Guide To Direct Payments [Department for Work & Pensions]

The New Way to Pick up Your Benefit.
For information on this Factsheet telephone: 0800 107 2000

Website: www.dwp.gov.uk/directpayment

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How to Beat the Bogus Caller - [Booklet issued by the Home Office.]

Helpful hints and tips on how to deal with and beat bogus callers.

First and foremost you should report any bogus callers who call at your home.

If you have information on bogus callers you can telephone CRIMESTOPPERS on: 0800 555 111

The booklet gives numbers you can call if you are bothered/concerned with this type of thing.

Seniorline 0800 800 6565.

You could also call your local council, or your Crime prevention Officers.

Age Concern also has a telephone number: 0800 00 99 66

It states n the booklet that it was important to remember that most callers to our homes are genuine people, who would be more than pleased to produce some form of identification to put your mind at rest.

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Better Value for EVERYONE over 50 [issued by Age Concern]

Information on: Home Insurance, Motor Insurance, Motor Breakdown, Travel Insurance, And Financial Arrangements. Telephone: 0800 169 2700 - 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.

As usual I finish off ‘members information' by tendering my apologies to anyone/ organization where I have given incorrect numbers or misquoted any information. I do check all the information in the newsletter, but mistakes are sometimes made. Remember, if you do telephone the wrong department, then ask them to give you the correct department, or find it for you. The main thing is you could be entitled to any of the help or benefits you've just read about.

So TELEPHONE, email or whatever, and check it out.

They can only say no, and they might say yes!

Mae Stewart

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