Welfare Rights Service put £10m into the pockets of Lancashire residents in 2024-25
"I will never forget what you have done for me."
That's just one of the heart-warming comments given to Lancashire's Welfare Rights Service, whose efforts have ensured residents across the county are now more than £10 million better off.
The Welfare Rights Service provides free and confidential advice about claiming benefits and can assist in making claims and appealing benefit decisions.
The £10.1 million secured in 2024-25 is the largest amount of sustainable income the Welfare Rights Service has secured for Lancashire residents in its history.
This sustainable income helps to support residents to live more independently and in some cases, help towards appropriate care. It can also help people back into work as they can look for work knowing they have some financial stability. The efforts of the service supports the council's wider growth ambitions too, as the money coming into Lancashire will likely be spent locally.
A key initiative that's managed by the Welfare Rights Service is the Pensioner Benefits Uptake campaign, which first launched in the Ribble Valley in 2022 and has been gradually working its way across Lancashire.
Since then, more than £4.3 million has gone into the pockets of pensioners through this campaign, with a significant chunk of that being recurring payments.
Older people aged 75 and over who are eligible for a free benefits check will receive a letter from their district council to inform them about the offer. They will also receive a coupon, which can be sent back to the Welfare Rights Service to process.
"We've had lots of feedback off people, written feedback, just saying 'you've changed my life'," said Welfare Rights Officer Kathleen Verboven.
"There's just been an overall improvement in people's quality of life and people are just very grateful to have had the service."
The Pensioner Benefits Uptake campaign launched in 2022
Many people over pension age do not claim all the benefits they are entitled to, often due to not knowing which benefits are available, what the qualifying criteria are, how to maintain a claim or worrying what other people may think.
"The complexity of the benefit system is a big thing," said Kathleen.
"People don't know what they're entitled to. Some people say they've tried to look something up, but then there's so many different rules and contingencies on things that they kind of give up or they've been misinformed. Often we hear 'we've got savings and we've got a private pension, so we won't qualify for things'. But the way the system works is it's individual – so it's not the same for everyone."
One elderly couple who returned a campaign coupon ended up with an entitlement increase of £18,187 per year, with an additional lumpsum payment of £3,898.
They wrote to the Welfare Rights Service, saying it has "improved our financial position immeasurably".
Another pensioner saw her entitlement increase by £7,179 per year, with a lumpsum payment of £2,400.
In a letter to the service, they said: "I feel I am able to stay in my own home, hopefully for the rest of my days.
"I will never forget what you have done for me. You have great respect for the elderly."
Another resident wrote: "Without your intervention, my situation would have been bordering on desperate.
"As it is now, I can organise assistance and stay in my home. I sincerely thank all your team. God bless you all."
County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
"It's incredibly heartwarming to see the positive impact our Welfare Rights Service has had for some of our most vulnerable residents.
"In some instances, it has been life changing, enabling working age and older residents to live more independently.
"Our Welfare Rights service has a proven track record of helping people claim the money entitled to them. We know that most of this money will likely be spent locally in Lancashire, so this also gives a welcome boost to businesses in our county.
"I would like to thank our staff at Lancashire County Council for all of their efforts and for helping to break down the barriers to the benefits system.
"At a time when many Lancashire residents, especially pensioners, and local businesses are struggling, I've been proud that we've been able to assist them to boost their financial wellbeing."
For more information about Lancashire County Council's Welfare Rights Service, visit: Welfare Rights Service - Lancashire County Council
If you have any questions after reading this information or you need further help, please contact the Welfare Rights Service using our enquiry form or telephone our Pensioners Helpline on 01772 533321.