Independent Age and Age UK have joined forces to develop a blueprint for a social security entitlement take-up strategy that could increase the number of low-income households receiving the financial support they desperately need.

The two charities have launched a report: Raising Take-up: a template strategy to increase the take-up of social security entitlements, to illustrate what a comprehensive strategy could look like. 

In the face of stagnating take-up rates – Pension Credit for example has remained at between 60% and 65% take-up for more than a decade – both charities have been calling for the UK Government to introduce a strategy to ensure money that has been set aside reaches eligible older people who need it.  

The charities hope the new report will inspire the Government to build on their work and develop its own plans to close the gap between the numbers eligible for financial entitlements and those receiving them.  

Government data shows that millions of households are missing out on billions of pounds of vital support that can boost incomes by thousands of pounds a year, including Pension Credit (up to £2.4 billion) Attendance Allowance (£5.2 billion), Carer’s Allowance (£2.4 billion) and Housing Benefit (up to £1.3 billion). 

This income can mean the difference between living in a cold home and being able to turn on the heating without worrying about spiralling bills, putting food on the table or skipping meals and paying the transport costs to see friends and family to ease isolation. 

The report identifies several barriers holding eligible people back from the potentially life-changing income boosts. A lack of awareness of available support, confusion over eligibility, long and complicated applications forms, digital exclusion, stigma and patchy coordination across Government departments all play a part in hindering take-up. 

With 13 million people in the UK living in poverty, 1.7 million of whom are of State Pension age, and around a million more older people on low incomes teetering on the brink, the organisations warn that the Government will need to think differently if it is to meet its commitment to increase take-up and tackle poverty among all age groups.  

Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said: “It is a sign of a failing social security system that the very people it was designed to support don’t receive the financial help they are entitled to. 

“Billions of pounds of support is not reaching eligible households to help them cope with spiralling costs – from heating and water to food and rent. People should not have to overcome a maze of complex forms, confusing information or digital barriers to receive the financial support they are entitled to. 

“A UK Government take-up strategy would bring together existing efforts, address gaps in support and prove to older people on a low income that there is a clear plan for delivering lasting change. It’s time to fix the holes in the social security safety net that we should all be able to rely on.”  

Caroline Abrahams, CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “Shameful numbers of older people who are eligible for a range of means-tested and health-related benefits that could transform their lives continue to miss out, and as a society we have arguably accepted this depressing state of affairs as though there is nothing, we can do to change it. 

In fact, there undoubtedly is, and that’s why Age UK has been delighted to work with our friends at Independent Age on this report, which makes a compelling case for the development of a government take-up strategy.  If the political resolve is there such a strategy could make a real difference.”

Targeted strategy

Independent Age and Age UK are urging the UK Government to create a targeted and holistic strategy to drive-up take-up rates. The two charities have identified the key features any strategy will need to succeed, including that it covers all social security entitlements, has measurable targets, clear accountability, and robust plans to monitor progress.

Report link:

Raising Take-up: a template strategy to increase the take-up of social security entitlements