Warming advice for the elderly

By Celia Paul

ELDERLY Barnsbury residents were given advice and help to get through the winter months this week.

The Warm and Well event, held in Chapel Market on Tuesday morning, hoped to get hundreds of residents the help they are entitled to this winter.

Audrey McDonnell, Strategic Projects Manager for Islington Council, said: “Winter debts have doubled over the past three years, and the most vulnerable group are the over 55’s."

Groups including Age Concern, the Pensions Service, the police and the fire brigade braved the weather to hand out leaflets, advice, blankets and free soup.

Marie McCormack, from the council’s joint visiting team, said: “A lot of people just don’t know what they are entitled to, in tax credits, fuel allowances and council tax rebates.

“I met a woman last month who had been paying council tax when she didn’t have to, and she got a rebate of £1800 just in time for Christmas. That makes a huge amount of difference to someone living on a state pension.”

Muriel Jackson, 78, said: “I knew I could get a fuel allowance, but there are lots of other things I didn’t know I could get from the council. I think these things might help a lot this year, and I’ll be much better off.”

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