SWINDON'S Age Concern says a rule which stops pensioners receiving benefits when they travel abroad for more than four weeks must be scrapped.
The rule, which stops Pension Credit after four weeks overseas, means that pensioners must re-apply for the benefit on their return leaving many facing mounting bills while they wait weeks for it to be reinstated.
The rule affects older people visiting family in countries such as Australia, India, Canada and the Caribbean.
Age Concern says the rule penalises older people who travel abroad for medical treatment, and for faith reasons.
The charity is calling on the Government to change the rule and extend it to a minimum of 13 weeks.
Age Concern Swindon's director Jo Osorio said: "This anomaly not only causes hardship to many of the poorest pensioners but is also costly to administer."
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