West Northamptonshire boosts pensioner income by an average of over £360 a month

West Northamptonshire Council faced the challenge of supporting older residents who were eligible for Pension Credit but not receiving it.

Many had made previous applications that were refused, did not understand why they were ineligible or had simply given up trying. This created financial strain, reduced independence and increased the risk of social isolation.

The council’s core challenge was to identify eligible households, help them access financial support, and they received the income they were entitled to.

The council used the LIFT platform to pinpoint households likely to be eligible for Pension Credit and to track the financial impact of the campaign.

LIFT made it possible to identify who the residents were, understand their age and circumstances, and calculate both the potential annual and lifetime benefit awards.

These data insights helped the council prioritise outreach, guide residents through the claims process, and ultimately target support to those most in need.

The campaign achieved strong results.

In the first few months, LIFT identified 366 households, and 154 individuals, 42%, successfully received a Pension Credit award.

The average backdated payment was £849, with one resident receiving a quite significant £2,700. On average, each household became £366 better off, creating immediate and meaningful financial relief.

In total, the annualised value of awards reached £677,105. Using demographic information and entitlement length, the calculated lifetime award for these residents was £4.6 million, meaning that, on average, individuals were around £30,000 better off over the course of their claim.

Beyond the financial results, the human stories demonstrated the real impact.

One resident explained that the award meant she could now afford to attend her son’s wedding, not because she wouldn’t be welcome otherwise, but because she didn’t want to be a burden and wished to pay her own way.

Another resident, who had been refused Pension Credit five times, was encouraged to try again. This time, he was awarded successfully and later phoned the council simply to say thank you.

These stories highlight that behind every figure is a person whose life has been improved.

The most notable success has been the combination of substantial financial gains for residents and the personal, meaningful changes these awards have enabled.

LIFT made it possible to identify the right households, understand their likely eligibility, and support them through the application process, even when residents had been discouraged by repeated past refusals.

The campaign not only delivered millions in additional income but also helped people regain confidence, independence and dignity.

These are the people behind the figures, and they are the reason the work matters.