- Conference
- 2006 Retired Members' Conference
- Date
- 16 June 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that over recent years many older people have been facing large increases in their Council Tax bills. However, up to two million pensioners are missing out on Council Tax Benefit which could cut their bill by £540 a year. Council Tax Benefit is the most unclaimed benefit of all – with pensioners losing out on up to £1.1 billion each year.
Conference continues to believe that the Government should increase the basic state pension to a decent level so that older people are not so reliant on means-tested benefits. However, in the meantime, those pensioners struggling to survive on a low fixed income should claim the benefits to which they are entitled.
Conference therefore calls on the National Retired Members’ Committee to:
1)publicise to retired members details of Council Tax Benefit entitlement;
2)participate in the 2007 ‘Your Rights Week’ campaign which aims to encourage older people to claim the benefits which are rightfully theirs.