Campaigners will this week deliver a £1.1billion “invoice” to ministers to highlight the value of Pension Credit they estimate goes unclaimed.
The Independent Age charity calculates the amount of money set aside for older people on low incomes but that is not “cashed” is enough to pay annual average energy bills for 454,000 households.
It calls on the Government to produce a plan to boost uptake of the welfare benefit.
Independent Age wants the strategy “to outline a sustained and strategic approach to reducing the amount of eligible older people missing out on the entitlement”.
Policy chief Morgan Vine said: “The Government has made a good start on efforts to increase Pension Credit uptake, however, the number of new claims is unlikely to touch the sides when it comes to those still missing out.
“Our own analysis shows that far too many eligible people are likely to still not be receiving this vital support.
“This is having a detrimental impact on the lives of people across Great Britain.”
The charity’s helpline staff hear from pensioners “sitting in the dark to save money on electricity while others reduce the number of times they wash each week or skip meals”, he added.
Independent Age said that, according to the latest, published government statistics, Pension Credit uptake was 66% in 2019/20.
In its calculations, the charity assumed it had risen to 70% by 2022/23.
But it feared that last year, 589,819 people eligible for the benefit did not receive it.
Official figures show the average unclaimed weekly amount is £37 - equivalent to £1,924 a year.
With 589,819 people missing out, that equates to £1.135bn going unclaimed.
Mrs Vine said: “It’s unacceptable that still such a large sum of money is sitting there unused, especially as some essential costs, such as food, continue to increase sharply.
“A bold Pension Credit uptake strategy is urgently needed to get this money into the pockets of those that need it the most.
“Allowing this situation to continue would be a dereliction of duty by the Government.”
Highlighting the potential impact of the benefit, Thabani Sithole, 73, of Streatham, South London, said that before she began claiming Pension Credit she went through “a desperate, desperate time”.
She added: “It was a constant struggle - where to get food from, gas and electric bills going up and paying council tax too.
“I was comfortable before the pandemic, but my work dried up and my small private pension dwindled, leaving me with just my state pension.
“My house was very cold so I had to wear extra clothes and cover myself in a blanket.
“At one point they were even threatening to repossess my home.
“I think I would have been homeless without Pension Credit, it really changed my life.
“Now I feel like a normal person with a bright future ahead of me.”
A Department of Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “We want pensioners to receive all the support they are entitled to which is why we are raising awareness of Pension Credit and its wider benefits such as help with heating costs.
“Our Pension Credit Day of Action last year saw claims more than double to 275% in one week and we’re continuing to build on this success through advertising including TV, valued stakeholder and influencer support and the Help for Households campaign.
“We urge everyone with retired family, friends and loved ones to check their eligibility for this extra financial support.”
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