Rothesay Foundation and Iceland Foods help older customers uncover £17m in unclaimed benefits ahead of winter
Backed by a £1.8 million commitment from the Rothesay Foundation, the Benefits Boost campaign is providing older Iceland customers with free benefits checks and support throughout the application process.
Since the campaign launched earlier this year, more than 4,100 Iceland customers aged 66 and over have received a benefits check. More than 70% were found to be missing out on support they may be entitled to, worth an average of c. £5,600 a year. So far, the campaign has identified c. £17 million in annual unclaimed support, with £4.2 million now in payment.
Benefits Boost goes beyond identifying the benefits older people may be entitled to entitlement by providing the practical help customers need to complete forms and progress their claims. More than 2,100 customers have already received this one-to-one support from specialist advisers.
Tallulah Woods, Campaigns Manager at the Rothesay Foundation, said: “Hundreds of thousands of older people are missing out on financial support that could help them live more securely and independently. Benefits Boost aims to change that by making it easier for Iceland’s older customers to claim the benefits they are entitled to by providing practical, expert help to navigate what can often be a complex claims process. With winter around the corner, this support is more important than ever. The results so far show the difference Benefits Boost is making, and we would urge those eligible customers who have not already accessed the support to do so - it could make a real difference to their everyday lives.”