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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released figures detailing billions of pounds worth of benefits that went unclaimed in the 2009-10 financial year.
The figures are surprising and reveal that many individuals including pensioner and the unemployed are missing out on benefits worth thousands of pounds to many potential claimants.
Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director General of Age UK said: "​The latest figures show that there is a staggering amount of £​5.5 billion worth of benefits going unclaimed by older people each year. This is the same level as last year and so it is very disappointing that there has been no progress in older people not claiming the benefits they are owed. There are still 1.8 million people in later life living in poverty and claiming pension credit can make a huge difference to someone'​s income and quality of life."​
The report entitled ‘​The Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-up’​ covers the whole of the UK for 2009-10 and estimates the number of people who are entitled too but not claiming income related benefits including income support and employment and support allowance, pension credits, housing benefit, council tax benefits and jobseeker’​s allowance.

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