A CAMPAIGN to encourage pensioners to claim for benefits has seen £137,000 paid out in arrears.

Ninety-five pensioners in Harrogate borough now have more money.

Several received backdated benefits of more than £7,000.

Staff from the Government's Pension Service worked with Harrogate Borough Council to identify pensioners who were not claiming all their entitlements.

Councillor Andrew Jones, cabinet member for resources, said: "There are pockets of real poverty amongst our district's pensioners, so this campaign was launched with two objectives.

"They were to help those most in need and to address one of the key reasons why some pensioners do not claim all they are entitled to, and that is the intimidating bureaucracy of a 32-page Government form."

The campaign team has now reduced the form to only three pages.

* See The Northern Echo every Saturday for advice on benefits from John Gordon.