A shocking new report has revealed that thousands of pensioners across the UK are failing to claim money they are already entitled to, with up to three in four missing out on an average of £1,339 a year. The figures, from retirement specialists Just Group, paint a grim picture of older households quietly losing out on vital support at a time when every pound matters.
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The study found that more than four in ten pensioner homeowners qualify for at least one government benefit, yet 74 per cent are not claiming it. In plain English, that means money is sitting there waiting to be taken — but huge numbers of pensioners either do not know it exists or never get round to applying. For many low-income households, that can make the difference between coping and struggling.
Among the most eye-catching findings, fewer than one in four eligible pensioners are claiming council tax reductions, even though the average new claim is worth more than £1,000 a year. Just Group also said 62 per cent of pensioners were missing out on at least one key benefit, while 14 per cent were under-claiming and losing an average of £1,162 a year.
