New figures released by the UK Government show that up to 850,000 families who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not claim the benefit in the financial year 2019 to 2020.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said up to £1.7 billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed. On average, this amounted to around £1,900 per year for each family entitled to receive the ‘gateway’ benefit.
Pension Credit gives people extra money to help with living costs if they are over State Pension age and on a low income - an estimated seven out of 10 of those entitled to Pension Credit did claim.