Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards is supporting 'Credit Where It's Due' campaign for reform of Pension Credit.

In launching the campaign, the older people's charity, Independent Age, has called on the British Government's Department for Work and Pensions to introduce an action plan to reform the Pension Credit benefit to tackle the injustice for older people caught up in the current system.

The charity has published a number of startling figures it believes highlights the injustice which some older people are facing:

· Each year £3.5 billion, set aside to help the least well off pensioners in society, is returned to the Treasury,

· There are currently 2 in 5 pensioners not getting the Pension Credit they are entitled to,

· On average, older people entitled to Pension Credit are missing out on £49 a week.

Independent Age has calculated that by ensuring 75% of those entitled to Pension Credit actually receive it by the end of 2020, that around 500,000 older people will be lifted out of poverty.

On signing his pledge to support the campaign, particularly to support the local residents in Carmarthenshire, Jonathan Edwards MP said:

"I and my Plaid Cymru colleagues fully support the Independent Age campaign and I call on the UK Government to reform Pension Credit to end this scandal. A number of constituents have contacted me to share their concerns regarding Pension Credit where they are not receiving the pension support they are entitled to. It is a disgrace that £5,131,000 worth of Pension Credit is not reaching the pockets of the hardest pressed pensioners in my constituency.

"The issue of Pension Credit has been more apparent following the recent announcement that the BBC will no longer offer universal free TV licences for over-75s. All households not in receipt of a Pension Credit will have to pay for TV licences from next year. But as 40% of those eligible for this benefit do not take it up, many of those entitled to a free TV licence will miss out.

"Successive UK Governments have not addressed the Pension Credit issue so it is now time for the Department for Work and Pensions to set out the steps that will be taken to ensure all those who are entitled to this support actually receive what they are entitled to."