HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope is backing a new government publicity campaign featuring Last of the Summer Wine stars Dame Thora Hird and Peter Sallis, which aims to help cash-strapped pensioners.
A television campaign is aiming to reach around half-a-million pensioners who the DSS believe have been missing out on benefits.
Mr Pope said: "This will reach those pensioners who are just getting by when they should be getting more. Too many don't claim their entitlement to the minimum income guarantee which Labour has introduced and I want to put right. There are hundreds and probably thousands of pensioners in Hyndburn who would be better off if they knew they were entitled to it."
The government is making claiming easier by setting up an electronic claim form which will mean that pensioners can phone a special line from their homes and an adviser will complete the form for them over the phone.
They will no longer have to fill in lengthy claim forms or go to DSS offices.
The hotline number is 0800 0281111.
Mr Pope added: "This campaign is a major step forward in tackling pensioner poverty. Too many pensioners in Hyndburn have been let down by the system in the past."
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