PAT MCFADDEN: These rogue opportunists MUST be held to account

Published: 19:00 EDT, 25 October 2026 | Updated: 19:15 EDT, 25 October 2026 A pensioner recently contacted my department in tears about a benefits claim that had been made on her behalf. She didn't know what it was for and feared it could get her into trouble.Another had been asked to hand over a large share of her welfare payment to a firm she had used to help her claim it. When she said she couldn't afford the firm's fee, a 'payment plan' was offered and, after being contacted repeatedly by a sales person, she felt pressured to agree to one.These are not isolated incidents. While the welfare state exists to support people in need, including vulnerable pensioners, it's increasingly being exploited by private business for profit. Both of the women above had made claims for Attendance Allowance, a benefit offered to older people who need help with personal care. And the number of claims for it made by management firms has increased fivefold in the past year alone.The rapid growth of this industry should concern us all, as these companies charge as much as £1,300 per application, which can eat into any margins enormously.Some people choose to pay this knowingly, but not everyone. It's clear that many people are not aware that they can access free support from Citizens Advice, Independent Age and a wide network of charities.But in the coming weeks, the Government will clamp down on claims-management firms by banning them from charging fees. We will introduce a new Code of Practice for the industry, which will be backed, if necessary, by legislation. While the welfare state exists to support people in need, including vulnerable pensioners, it's increasingly being exploited by private business for profitThis is about more than money. Some claims-management companies promise to 'take care' of the whole process, leaving customers with little understanding of what information has been submitted. We have seen cases where people discovered details had been included on claims – such as exaggerations of their care needs – that they did not know had been submitted.In the most serious cases, this amounts to fraud. Yet it is often the customer, not the company handling the claim, that is left to worry about the consequences.Nobody seeking support because of illness, disability or financial difficulty should be put in that position. Alongside the ban is a national awareness campaign, including advertisements in leading newspapers such as the Daily Mail, but also posters in GP surgeries and pharmacies, notifying claimants of the free support available.It's unacceptable that rogue opportunists are charging people significant fees for support they are entitled to for nothing. It's time to hold them to account.READ MORE: Crackdown on 'rogue' firms 'robbing' pensioners in benefits scam following surge in claims