news story

4th October 2007

MP Urges Local Pensioners to Dig Up 'Buried Treasure'

***CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE, MAY 2008: GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THIS IS A PROBLEM AND TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS IT!***

Pensions campaigner and local MP Steve Webb is asking local pensioners who have retired within the last 10 years to contact him to see if they might be entitled to a big boost to their state pensions.

The MP has already helped dozens of local pensioners who are missing out on a little-publicised government scheme to improve the basic state pension of people who are not getting full pensions.

Steve Webb, who specialises in campaigning for pensioners rights, is alerting local residents a scheme which allows them to fill "gaps" in their record of National Insurance contributions - sometimes at no cost to themselves - and boost their pension. He is asking local pensioners who satisfy all the following three categories to get in touch:

* they reached pension age in the last ten years; this means women in their sixties and men aged between 65 and 74;

* they are currently drawing a basic state pension of less than the maximum figure of £87.30 per week;

* for one or more years from 1996-97 to 2001-02 they were of working age and didn't pay a year of NI contributions.

For Northavon constituents who think that they may fit these categories, the MP can be contacted by e-mail at pensions@stevewebb.org.uk or by writing to him at Poole Court, Yate BS37 5PP.  

For those who are not constituents of Mr Webb, he has put together an information note <here> which will provide some background details and suggest a possible course of action for them to take.

He has already been in contact with dozens of local residents about the issue, some of whom are set to get large lump sum payments of back pension and a boost to their future pensions.

Steve Webb said:

"I know that retirement pensions are fiendishly complicated, and all too often people do  not get what they are entitled to. A few years ago the Government launched a scheme to help people fill gaps in their National Insurance record but it is so complicated that very few people actually responded.

"For many people on modest state pensions - especially many married women - there is the equivalent of 'buried treasure' with their name on it waiting to be dug up. I will be happy to advise any local resident who thinks they might be entitled".

 

Click here to download an information note about this issue

See this story on the BBC Money Box web site

Email Steve Webb if you are a constituent and might be affected