Council reaches out to households at risk of financial hardship to offer support

LIFT is a data analytics tool that enables the Council to identify households at-risk of financial hardship that may not be claiming the support they are entitled to. By analysing both local authority and publicly available datasets, LIFT helps the Council target those most impacted by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the lingering effects of the pandemic. 

Cllr Rachel Crouch, Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities, said, "We’re using LIFT to help us identify vulnerable households that might be unaware of the support available to them.  

“The pandemic, followed by the rising cost of living, has created significant financial pressure for many, and recent changes to Winter Fuel Payment criteria have made it more important than ever for eligible residents to claim Pension Credit. 

“LIFT has been an invaluable tool in helping us identify those residents who may otherwise be difficult to reach. However, we recognise that there may be more people who are entitled to support but aren’t included in our data. I urge anyone who thinks they or someone they know may be eligible for Pension Credit to check their eligibility and apply before 21 December.” 

Recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment criteria mean that only those in receipt of Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits will now qualify for the payment. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that around 880,000 households are eligible for Pension Credit but are not currently claiming it. To address this, a national Pension Credit awareness drive was launched in August, encouraging eligible households to apply for Pension Credit by 21 December 2024, enabling them to receive backdated payments and qualify for this winter's fuel support.  

The project is part of the Council’s wider work to support residents facing financial hardship and ensure they claim the support they are entitled to, including the continuing Household Support Fund. The next phase will focus on helping households make the most out of their income, with the Council to continue to use LIFT to identify residents eligible for other forms of financial support and reaching out to them to make them aware. 

If you think you may be eligible for Pension Credit and have not been contacted by the Council, please check your eligibility at https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility  or call the pension credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 OR Age UK Oxfordshire on 0345 450 1276.