1 in 4 Pensioners Don't Claim Pension Credit

3.50.46pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 31st Oct 2005

Figures from the Department of Work and Pensions show that 1 in 4 local pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit simply do not claim because they are too proud or cannot understand the paperwork. In the Twickenham constituency, 2,965 do claim - an average of just under £50 a week - but 1,014 are entitled and do not claim.

Vincent Cable MP said: "It is a scandal that so many poorer older people are missing out on money they should be getting as of right. And for my constituency, this scandal represents a loss to the local economy of as much as £50,339.

"In the short term, I hope everyone who is unsure about their entitlements rings the Pension Service helpline to find out if they are missing out.

"In the long term, we need to provide pensioners with a decent pension that isn't falling further and further below the poverty line each year."