Over £13million rates assistance provided to lone pensioners in Northern Ireland

25 May 2010

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has welcomed the take up of almost £13.5million of assistance to pay rates by lone pensioners across Northern Ireland.

£13,488,820 has been distributed to pensioners since April 2008 by Land & Property Services through the Lone Pensioner Allowance, which entitles persons aged 70 or over who live alone to a 20% discount in their rate bill.

Welcoming this, the Minister said: The Lone Pensioner Allowance is an example of the tangible help that the Executive is providing to one of our most vulnerable groups in society. It is encouraging that nearly 25,000 people have availed of this assistance which I am sure is of particular use in this current economic climate.”

The Minister, who was attending the Young at Heart Exhibition at St George’s Market for retired people in Northern Ireland, encouraged all those who qualify for the assistance to apply.

The Minister continued: If you are aged 70 or over and are living alone, I urge you to apply for the Lone Pensioner Allowance. If you are eligible you will receive this help irrespective of income or savings because this allowance is not means tested. Therefore you don’t have to tell us about your savings or income when you apply.

Older people, who do not live alone, may also be eligible for help with paying their rates.  I would encourage all older people to check out what help they are entitled to.”

Getting help to pay your rate bill is not exclusive to older people.   People on low incomes may be eligible for a reduction in their rates through the Housing Benefit Scheme or Rate Relief Scheme. The Disabled Persons Allowance scheme entitles a household to a 25% reduction in their rates if the property has been suitably adapted or has additional facilities to meet the special needs of a resident disabled person.

Full details of all these reliefs are available as follows:

• www.nidirect.gov.uk/rates
• telephone 101 (028 9151 3101). Calls cost 10p.