State pensioners missing out on three little-known DWP benefits worth £6,600 on average

Pensioners could be missing out on £6,600 worth of benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). A benefits check campaign from the charities Age UK and the Rothesay Foundation found a startling 76 per cent of older people in the pilot research group were not claiming the benefits they were eligible for.

Of this figure, an average of £6,600 in unclaimed benefits were identified per person. 37 per cent were missing out on Pension Credit, up to an average of £4,910 per year and 17 per cent of participants were thought to be missing out on Housing Benefit, worth an average of £6,319 per year.

66 per cent of participants could be missing out on Attendance Allowance, worth up to an average of £5,930 per year. Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, commented: “To date, we’ve already helped over 4,500 older people identify their benefit entitlements, and over the next two years we hope to reach even more. From our conversations with older people, we know how life-changing this support can be.”

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It comes after The Rothesay Foundation has made a £2.47m donation to Age UK to support and expand the charity’s benefits check service. The service provides free and confidential benefits checks to help older people in need of assistance find out and receive the state benefits they may be entitled to.

Chairman James Dickson said: “Too many older people are living in need in the UK despite being eligible and entitled to greater financial support. Through our pilot campaign with Age UK, we know that benefits like Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance can be life-changing, unlocking potentially thousands of pounds each year for those in need.

"By funding this expanded initiative with Age UK, we will deliver on our mission of improving the quality of life for older people in need in the UK by ensuring far fewer pensioners are missing out on the essential financial support they are entitled to.”