Research by Age UK shows pensioners are not claiming a benefit worth thousands of pounds which can also unlock other help
Nearly 500,000 older women are failing to claim a crucial benefit worth thousands of pounds annually, fresh analysis has revealed. Research by Age UK discovered that approximately 470,000 single female pensioners are not receiving the key benefit despite being eligible for it.
Pension Credit can supplement incomes and unlock additional support worth an average £2,600 per year, potentially transforming the financial situations of many struggling retirees. The alert comes as the charity discloses that 1.1 million women pensioners are living in poverty.
This figure has remained persistently high despite the number of female pensioners dropping by 740,000 since 2010-11 following rises to the State Pension age. Campaigners argue the statistics expose a significant system failure which leaves some of the most vulnerable older women without support they are legally entitled to access.
Almost two in five pensioner households eligible for Pension Credit – approximately 38% – are missing out, according to official data. This equates to roughly one million pensioners failing to claim, with the total sum of unclaimed support now estimated at £2.1 billion annually. The average amount pensioners are forfeiting has also increased sharply from £37 to £50 weekly, the charity stated.
Pension Credit does more than merely increase income. Successfully claiming it can also serve as a gateway to additional assistance, including council tax reductions, help with energy bills and a free TV licence for over-75s. Despite its significance, the latest analysis by the Department for Work and Pensions revealed that uptake of the benefit has actually decreased in the most recent year.
In anticipation of Mother’s Day, Age UK is encouraging families to investigate whether their elderly female relatives might be eligible. Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “As Mother’s Day approaches, and with the Middle East conflict potentially threatening higher prices for energy and other essentials further down the track, there’ll never be a better time for older women to check whether they are missing out on financial entitlements that could ease their anxieties about making ends meet.”
She continued: “At Age UK we are proud of the millions in Pension Credit and other benefits which we help older people to claim each month, but it shouldn’t be down to us to ensure they get their due. We urge the Government to keep working at reforming the system, with the aim of reaching a position in which older people can get the help they need without having to jump through hoops and put in a claim.”
The charity said women’s retirement incomes are typically lower than men’s because they are more likely to have spent time out of the labour market, worked part-time or taken on caring responsibilities during their lives. It warned that many older women are reluctant to seek help, meaning they could be struggling unnecessarily.
Ms Abrahams said: “Many older women are intensely self-reliant, reluctant to ask for help, and conscious that there are others who may be worse off than they are. That’s why some gentle prompting to look into their eligibility for Pension Credit from those they trust is so important.”
She added: “In the face of the latest worrying figures showing Pension Credit take up going down rather than up, the Government must also clearly do more to raise public awareness and support older men and older women who may be eligible to claim. There is absolutely no room for complacency.”
Age UK says pensioners should check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit, apply early – up to four months before reaching State Pension age – and encourage friends and relatives to check too.
The charity’s own advisers say the difference can be dramatic. In January 2026, its benefits team completed 538 entitlement checks, finding that 66% of older people were eligible for additional support. On average they uncovered £6,593 a year in potential extra income per person, with a total £3.2 million in benefits identified in just one month. Anyone worried about their finances can contact Age UK’s advice line on 0800 169 6565 or check eligibility online.
