Pensioners not claiming their full entitlement

MILLIONS of older people could be missing out on thousands in vital state benefits because they don't know they are eligible and have never bothered to claim.

- By Harvey Jones

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to squeeze retirement incomes, pensioners are being encouraged to check if they are eligible for more than a dozen benefits and entitlements, including Pension Credit, council tax reductions and heating support. More than 13 million people are now above state pension age but uptake of extra support continues to remain low.

Many pensioners wrongly assume that the state pension is the only financial support available to them in retirement, and miss out on valuable payments as a result, according to new research from Spencer Churchill Claims Advice.