State pensioners urged to come forward for 'little known' free £70 a week from DWP

A little-known service is helping pensioners claim an extra £170 a week from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). A 75-year-old discovered she was eligible for an extra £68.10 per week in benefits after a quick check.

The benefits check revealed she qualified for Attendance Allowance, with no effect on her existing pension. Penny, who relies on crutches due to broken hips and Osteoporosis, initially received a letter from the Rothesay Foundation about their partnership with Age UK.

She contacted Age UK's Advice Line for an appointment, and it helped her claim Attendance Allowance, with no effect on her existing pension, as well as an increase in Pension Credit. Penny said: "I thought I should have been claiming this years ago! Age UK arranged for me to be sent all the information, which was very helpful. I was so concerned with heating costs last winter, now, I think I’ll be okay.

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"I am so pleased with the service; it helped me so much. Without Age UK’s help, I would never have been able to claim Attendance Allowance, or even known I was entitled to it.” James Dickson, Chairman of the Rothesay Foundation, said: "Too many older people are living in need in the UK despite being eligible and entitled to greater financial support."

The expanded service aims to support over 11,000 older people through the partnership over the next two years. In a statement this week, Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, a leading UK charity, said: "At Age UK, we are committed to ensuring that every older person can afford to heat their home and enjoy a hot meal at least once a day."

The initiative will support 11 local Age UKs to deliver benefits checks in local communities, the charity says, with dedicated staff helping older people through the application process.