CHORLEY residents are being urged to cash in on a massive £2.5m worth of social security backpayments.

Up to 38,000 people in Lancashire will be entitled to the cash following a ruling from the Secretary of State for Social Security.

The decision to equalise the age of eligibility to 60, backdated to 1997, is estimated to be worth £2.5m for Lancashire.

However, the qualification age will start to rise in 2010 and will be finally set at 65 in 2020.

Frank McKenna, chairman of Lancashire County Council's welfare rights and social inclusion sub-committee, said: "It is good news for many people in Lancashire that the Government has decided to make these backdated payments.

"Many of those who will qualify will be men, but some women who previously did not qualify because they were not in receipt of certain benefits could also be affected.

"I want to urge anyone who thinks they could qualify to look out for the national advertising campaign by the Benefits Agency that will be appearing soon to find out how to claim.

"I have asked our welfare rights officers to monitor its success. If we need to take action to ensure Lancashire people get their entitlement, then we will.

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