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Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:

“We welcome James Purnell to his new appointment as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He has already helped to deliver the most important pensions reform of our generation and we hope he continues to be an effective advocate for older people.

“We urge him to make the uptake of state benefits for older people a top priority. Confusion over the complicated benefits system is stopping pensioners claiming much needed cash. Around £4.6bn of benefits go unclaimed every year, money that could dramatically improve their standard of living.”

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Notes to editors

• Age Concern found that 6 out of 10 lower income pensioners are put-off claiming benefits by the complex system, with almost half finding means-testing too intrusive and 48% being discouraged by the complicated forms.
• Age Concern nominated James Purnell MP for ePolitix’s Older People’s Champion award in 2007, which he won. The charity put him forward for his work on the Pensions Bill, which became an Act that will bring in significant changes to the pensions system. Interventions during the progress of the Bill, which he oversaw, helped to extend the number of people benefiting from Carer’s Credit. Building on the work of ministerial colleagues and a strong cross-party group of MPs, he ensured that the progressive, reforming Pensions White Paper became law.