New Online Benefit Calculator for Older People

Over 100 older people and their representatives joined MLAs in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, at the launch of a new ‘A2B Benefit Calculator’ for over 60s in Northern Ireland.

The A2B Benefit Calculator, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, is a new way of helping older people find out about the benefits they are entitled to. At least £50 million per year goes unclaimed by over 60s here in Pension Credit alone. Because it does not come from the Northern Ireland block grant, this is money lost to Northern Ireland’s older people and its economy.

Social Development Committee Chair David Simpson, MP MLA, one of the launch sponsors, said:

"We need to ensure that older people here claim all the benefits that are available to them. Too many people are having to make difficult choices about where their money goes – claiming benefits that they have contributed to during their working lives can help to ease that burden. The extra money in their pockets can help both them and our local economy."

By visiting the website www.a2b.org.uk and answering a series of simple and anonymous questions, an older person or a trusted person acting on their behalf can find out what benefits they are entitled to.

Zoë Anderson, Communications Officer at A2B explained:

"With recent rises in fuel and food prices, it is more important than ever that older people here get all the benefits due to them. Many don’t know what is available or don’t claim because the application process is so daunting. www.a2b.org.uk can help them to find out what they are entitled to claim and where to get help with applying."

As Sinn Féin Party Spokesperson on welfare issues, launch sponsor Mickey Brady MLA recognises the pressing need for older people to claim all the benefits available:

"The whole administration of provision of benefit and uptake needs to be urgently addressed, especially given the current Credit Crunch when now more than ever people are becoming increasingly reliant on benefits just to meet their basic everyday needs.

"Part of the problem is that many people just don’t know what is out there: take Pension Credit, for example, which is particularly relevant given the fact that it can lead to passport benefits like the Social Fund and Housing Benefit. People and in particular older people need to be given the proper information in order to access and maximise their benefit uptake."

Users of the A2B Benefit Calculator are presented with a simple report which they can print off or save and bring to an advice organisation for further help. The report gives them details of benefits and amounts they should be claiming. The A2B site provides details of organisations which deliver benefits and provide advice and information about benefits and it contains links to claim forms on other websites. The benefit calculation is completely anonymous and all data is held securely.

The website has been designed and developed in Northern Ireland, by A2B with the input of older people to ensure that it is as simple and user-friendly as possible.

As part of A2B’s outreach and training activities, over 200 people have now been trained in how to help older people use the A2B Benefit Calculator. These include community health workers, community development workers and volunteers across Northern Ireland.