Fifty pensioners, four days, and real results for Blackpool South
Last week my team and I held four Older Persons’ Advice Surgeries across Blackpool South. We saw over 50 pensioners in two days with the majority of those conversations turning into casework and some of it already paying off.
One 80-year-old-man came to us with a suspected carcinoma. He had been told in February that a follow-up appointment would be arranged at the hospital, but he still hadn’t received one. He’d already contacted the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and got no further so he turned to me.
My office has had great success helping people access the health services they need and built excellent relationships with local teams. We contacted the hospital’s chief executive and within a we managed to secure an appointment as soon as possible and an apology for this elderly gentleman. He should never have needed an MP’s office to get it but I’m glad he came to us and that we could help.
With a constituent at my surgery at St Stephen’s on the Cliffs
Not everyone came with a new issue. One 69-year-old man who we’ve been working with for the past six months came along just to meet the team and say thank you. He retired in April and still hasn’t received a penny. The problems are not unique to Blackpool. Many retirees nationally have been left waiting months for their pension since the administration moved from MyCSP to Capita on 1 December 2025, prompting a joint apology from the Cabinet Office and Capita and a recovery plan.
I have had over 30 civil service pension cases and while they can take time, we have had success and resolved 17 cases so far. People plan their retirement around that first payment and we’ll keep pressing until every case is resolved.
The biggest positive change for many people who attended the surgeries could come from Attendance Allowance. We submitted several applications for people who are likely to be entitled to it, worth £76.70 or £114.60 a week. That’s roughly £4,000 to £6,000 a year and a successful claim can unlock further help, such as top-ups to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. Research by Policy in Practice and MoneySavingExpert suggests more than 1.1 million pension-age households could be missing out on £5.2 billion of Attendance Allowance a year. Many people simply don’t know it exists, or assume it isn’t for them.
We also heard from residents worried about keeping the lights on, or about boilers that have given up. We signposted them to Cosy Homes and the Green Doctors, who can offer practical help.
What I took from the surgeries is how often people say they didn’t want to be a bother. They worked, paid in and rarely asked for anything. Some are proud, some are nervous and some just don’t know where to start. Many said they weren’t sure whether they should come but when they received my invite in the post the plucked up the courage. I hate to think how many didn’t attend who could have benefited from my support.
That’s why I’m also holding my first Older Persons’ Fair on Friday 23 October, 9am to 3pm, at the Pavilion & Horseshoe in the Winter Gardens. Citizens Advice, Healthwatch Blackpool, Blackpool Council, British Gas Energy Trust and many others will be under one roof, alongside choirs, craft groups, dance workshops and plenty of tea and company. You don’t need a problem to come and you definitely won’t be a bother! Let my office know if you can make it on 01253 532401, chris.webb.mp@parliament.uk, or sign up at chriswebb.org/opfair.
