A pensioners' champion today backed Castle Point MP Bob Spink's appeal to get a fairer deal for elderly and make sure they collect the council tax reductions they are entitled to.
Joan Spye, president of Age Concern Canvey, said the problem was that too many pensioners didn't know what they were entitled to and thought of benefits as handouts.
She said: "A lot of elderly people are proud. Today's generation grew up on benefits and see them as a normal part of life.
"We do find a lot of older people think of benefits as charity and we have a hard time encouraging them to take them up.
"Once we have persuaded them, we help them fill in the form to apply, but the hardest part is getting them not to think of these as charity."
Published Tuesday November 18, 2003
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