The Charity makes quarterly payments to those of State pensionable age who have lived in the Borough of Hastings for at least three years and are resident at the time of application.

To be eligible, Pensioners must be on a low income (usually defined as being in receipt of Pension Credit).

The application process is via a form (usually completed at the applicant’s home with the assistance of the Charity’s Visitor – see below). This is followed by a conversation with a Trustee member of the Pensions Committee.

Each Pensioner is ‘Elected’ for three years, and at the end of that period a renewal application form is required to be completed. If applicants are still in need, then their pension is renewed for a further three years and every three years thereafter, following a similar procedure.

Pensions cease to be paid if the Pensioner enters full-time residential care.

The Pensions are paid quarterly on the first working Monday of January, April, July and October. There is a further ‘Winter Payment’ in mid-December.

The payment is set to a level that will not affect any state benefits being received. The payments are currently £100 for individuals per quarter and £70 each for couples. The Winter Payment is £50 per person.

More information about the Pension Scheme can be found in the Charity’s Policy Digest.