Pension Service Staff To Target Bingo Halls

Pension Service plans to raise awareness with bingo hall visits.

Government officials will visit bingo venues to advise older players about their pensions, it has emerged.

According to the Mirror, staff from the Pension Service are planning to attend games at Mecca Bingo clubs around the UK in order to check that people are claiming their full entitlement.

The government estimates that 1.8 million of the country's older people are currently missing out on about £2.8 million in pension money.

Commenting on the bingo initiative, minister for pensions Rosie Winterton told the newspaper: "It's eyes down for extra money for Britain's pensioners."

The basic state pension is set to increase by five per cent today (April 7th), rising from £90.70 to £95.25 for single people.

However, several charities and financial groups have said that the increase will not do enough to help older people struggling to cope with the economic downturn.