Pensioners are being urged to check if they’re receiving all of the financial support available to them as they could be missing out on thousands of pounds worth of DWP benefits.

A benefits check campaign from the charities Age UK and the Rothesay Foundation found a startling 76% 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.

Among those who were found to be missing on benefits they were not eligible for, 37% were missing out on Pension Credit, up to an average of £4,910 per year.

Up to 17% of participants were thought to be missing out on Housing Benefit, worth an average of £6,319 per year.

Meanwhile, a significant 66% of participants could be missing out on Attendance Allowance, worth up to an average of £5,930 per year.

Further research among those surveyed who were found to be eligible for benefits, 18% said they didn’t know how to claim them and 15% weren’t aware the benefits existed.

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.”

To help more older people claim the support they’re eligible for, the Rothesay Foundation has pledged to donate a further £2.47million to expand Age UK’s benefits check service over the next two winters.

According to the charities, the support could help a further 11,000 older people in need and identify up to £55million in unclaimed benefits.

Mr Farmer continued: “Many are forced to make impossible choices between heating, eating, buying warm clothes or even getting a small Christmas gift for a loved one. Older people deserve better.

“We are deeply grateful to the Rothesay Foundation for its generosity and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of older people.”

James Dickson, chairman of the Rothesay Foundation, 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.”

Along with Age UK’s tool, there are a number of benefit calculators available for people check potential entitlements, including those of Turn2us and Policy Practice.