OLDER people on low incomes are still not claiming many of the benefits they are entitled to, according to Bournemouth-based retirement developer McCarthy and Stone.

Through its benefits advice service, the company said it had helped more than 200 customers in the past 12 months find unclaimed benefits totalling more than £600,000.

With figures from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) indicating that up to 1.6 million older people are failing to claim pension credit worth up to £2.8bn, it is thought that about one in three of those eligible are still not claiming it.

McCarthy and Stone said that older people should carry out a full benefits check, including state pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, disability, council tax, health, winter fuel, TV licence and warm home discount scheme.

Lorena Brown, national sales director for McCarthy and Stone, said: “A low awareness of the range of benefits older people are entitled to, as well as a fear of talking to strangers about money problems is why many pensioners are struggling to cope with their finances and claim the extra cash.

“At McCarthy and Stone, we offer all residents a free and confidential review of benefits they are entitled to.”

Colin Cuthbert, benefits advisor at the firm, added: “Most of the people we help have never claimed anything extra in their life, but we explain that they’re entitled to investigate their options.

“These can make a real difference to many older people who have been struggling to meet the rising cost of living and didn’t know they could get some extra help. We’ve spoken to over 800 people about benefit entitlement in the past 12 months.

“Anyone aged 60 or over in England should also know they’re eligible for free NHS prescriptions and sight tests, but many residents who receive Guaranteed Pension Credit don’t realise that this automatically qualifies them for help towards NHS health costs too, so they can get free NHS dental treatment and a voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses. They can also receive help with essential travel costs to receive NHS treatment if referred by a doctor or dentist, or need to see a consultant.”