Success for Rochdale pensioner as minister orders Pension Credit Form review

A Rochdale pensioner’s call for change, championed by local MP Paul Waugh, has prompted the Secretary of State to order a review of the daunting Pension Credit application process.

Earlier this year, Healey resident Jim Moran raised concerns about the complexity of the 22-page Pension Credit form, which requires answers to 243 questions.

He shared his experiences with Mr Waugh at a meeting in September, highlighting how these bureaucratic hurdles discourage some of the most vulnerable pensioners from accessing the financial support they deserve.

Mr Waugh pledged to take the issue directly to the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions, sharing his own frustrations after helping his mother navigate the process.

In a response to Mr Waugh’s intervention, the Secretary of State Liz Kendall MP has now confirmed that officials have been tasked with reviewing the application form and proposing simplifications by the end of this month.

The letter acknowledges Mr Moran’s concerns, thanking him and Mr Waugh for bringing the issue to light:

"I have asked officials to review the paper form, using the views submitted by Mr Moran and others, and to make it easier to complete. I want to thank you and Mr Moran for raising this important issue."

Reacting to the announcement, Mr Waugh said: "This is a fantastic result for Jim and all pensioners who have struggled with the unnecessary complexity of the Pension Credit process.

"It’s ludicrous that our poorest pensioners are faced with such barriers to accessing the support they’ve earned. I’m pleased that the government has listened and is taking action to simplify the process. I’ll continue to monitor progress to ensure real changes are made."

Pension Credit boosts a pensioner’s income by an average of £3,900 per year, yet an estimated 880,000 eligible people are missing out.

Rochdale Council is already providing support to help residents claim, offering one-to-one help at local libraries and council offices.

Get face-to-face support from the council's customer services team in accessing services such as help with money, benefits, food banks, welfare advice, debt issues, housing and homelessness.

You don't need to book, you can just turn up to get support:

• Heywood Library and Customer Service Centre: Thursdays, 9am-5pm
• Middleton Library and Customer Service Centre: Tuesdays, 9am-5pm
• Rochdale Central Library and Customer Service Centre: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm