The Department for Work and Pensions is under fire after a man has hit out after being left unable to afford his house - and unable to claim benefits. The 67-year-old told GB News he "can’t afford a house in my home town or claim DWP benefits".
He warned: "The state pension is not enough." Rob Trewhella, 67, from Penzance, Cornwall says he is unable to access vital benefits from the DWP like Pension Credit. He explained: “However, I only applied for a one-bedroom bungalow. I’m not applying for a four-bedroom detached. A four-bedroom bungalow. I was number 286 to apply for that one-bedroom bungalow which is disgusting.”
“I found out I could claim Pension Credit if I only had £201 a week [coming in]. Before the state pension went up, which it did in April, I was on £203 a week,” Trewhella said. And he realised he was at risk of paying more tax on his state pension and income.
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“I’ve been paying tax since I was 17. I don’t want to pay tax anymore. Why should I pay tax?” And he said: “I would like to see a better availability of housing for elderly people due to a lot of people losing their ability once they get older. I know quite a few people who never go out their door. I want to see availability made to locals."
Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit. He added: “We are the poorest payers of the state pension in Europe. We're at the bottom of the list. Why aren’t we paying all pensioners a state pension that they can pay their bills and live on.”
