DWP's 243 questions and 24 page form to claim Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment
People who are applying for Pension Credit and hoping to secure the Winter Fuel Payment - which is worth £300 - face a 243 question form. Those hoping to qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance have a total of 24 pages and 15 sections to go through.
Campaigners say the complexities of the 24-page application could put people off. The first 15 questions ask for details about the claimant, including name, date of birth, national insurance number and address.
However, question four required the claimant to list all other surnames or family names. Independent Age's chief executive Joanna Elson said that older people struggling financially "may also be experiencing stress and anxiety which can make a long form difficult to tackle", reports BirminghamLive.
Read more: DWP sends 'groundbreaking' message to people who are unemployed and on benefits
Read more: DWP PIP assessments and changes that are due to come into effect from this month
Once the form is finished, claimants must then attach the relevant documents to back up their claim. These range from pension payslips to proof, required by question 109, that they or their partner pay service charges for the place where they live.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said: "To ensure Pension Credit is accessible for all, applications can be made online, over the phone, or via a paper application form.
"For anyone concerned about the paper application process, we would recommend they either claim online the service is available 24/7 every day of the year and can be completed with a friend or relative or by telephone where the caller is guided through the claim process.
"There has been an 115 percent increase in Pension Credit claims in the last five weeks compared to the five weeks before and we have surged 450 additional staff to respond to applications. We urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check now."