Thousands of pensioners in Dudley are missing out on benefits worth hundreds of pounds a week, according to Dudley North MP Ian Austin.

Mr Austin reckons almost half the households eligible for the extra help are not claiming it and is urging pensioners to check whether they are eligible and claim what they are due.

Pension Credit is the income-related benefit designed to lift them out of poverty but Austin says 2,300 older people in his Dudley North Constituency alone are missing out on a combined £5,424,000 every year

Almost two million older people aged 65 and over are living in poverty in the UK and more than 1.3 million pensioners are missing out on £3.5 billion in Pension Credit every year.

The Dudley MP is supporting Independent Age’s campaign which calls on the Government to ensure that everyone who is entitled to Pension Credit receives it. Ian Austin said:

“Older people have worked hard all their lives, paid in to the system and It’s terrible to hear that so many pensioners in Dudley are not getting the Pension Credit they’re entitled to.

“I know some people don’t want to claim, but this is their money and they are entitled to it so I’m calling on the Government to ensure older people in Dudley get the Pension Credit they deserve.”