The project, which is being led by the older people’s charity with funding support from the Scottish Government and Department of Work and Pensions, aims to increase benefit take up among older people. The initiative will provide free benefit checks and help with form filling and is due to be piloted in Glasgow’s East End and Aberdeenshire. 

David Manion, chief executive, Age Concern Scotland said that £4.6bn of benefit payments is currently unclaimed in the UK, which he said could be in pensioners pockets if they had more help with things like benefit checks and form filling.

 He said: “Many older people miss out because they don’t realise they are entitled to extra cash, don’t know how to claim, or feel there is a stigma attached and would rather ‘make do’.”

Manion said the project will make sure information about benefits and practical help is readily available in local communities.

Launching the pilot, Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said the Government has a responsibility to help people avoid or rise out of poverty.

She said: “In these days of ever increasing fuel, food and other domestic bills, we must take action to ensure that older people don’t miss out on what they are eligible to claim from the State.

“We have a duty to our older citizens. They have earned the right to a decent standard of living in a safe, warm and secure home free from the worry of how the next bill is going to be paid and the Scottish Government has a responsibility to help people avoid or rise out of poverty.

“This pilot project will help us to move forward with that ideal. It will ensure pensioners receive the correct information and advice to encourage them to claim all the benefits they are entitled to receive.”

While DWP Minister for Pensions Reform Mike O’Brien added the DWP wants pensioners to claim the benefits they are entitled to and they it is in the process of making the claiming process simpler

He said: “Pensioners are feeling the affect of price rises in their heating bills and at the supermarket.  We want them to claim all of the benefits they’re entitled to – just a few pounds can make all they difference.

“That’s why working in partnership with charities like Age Concern Scotland is so important to raise awareness of the help available.

“We’re making the claiming process for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit much simpler and if people claim before October 6 they might be able to receive up to a year’s backdated cash.”