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Millions left unclaimed in benefits

BBC Sam in front of an estate in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent BBC
Sam Hubbard is head of Citizens Advice in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire

About £8m in benefits is going unclaimed in Stoke-on-Trent, according to Citizen's Advice.

Since last September the charity has been working with the city council, reaching out to residents who are eligible for various benefits but aren't claiming them.

It is hosting advice sessions in community centres and care homes.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council figures show it has so far helped more than 5,000 families claim benefits worth some £1.7m.

The government's decision to make Winter Fuel Payments means-tested has meant Citizens Advice is now focused on signing up eligible older people for pension credit payments.

Claiming pension credit means the person is also automatically be eligible for winter fuel payments.

The reasons why people in the city aren't claiming varies, explains Sam Hubbard from Citizen's Advice.

Some people need support with the admin, in what can be a complicated form-filling process.

Ms Hubbard said a big stumbling block was actually encouraging older people to claim, because they were often too proud to, despite being eligible.

"I think a lot of it is the stigma," she said. "We've had several years of - if you're claiming benefits, you're a scrounger or a shirker."

Steve Griffiths at the community centre in Bentilee.
Steve Griffiths attends Money MOT advice session for help with benefits

Steven Griffiths lives in Bentilee. He said the Money MOT workshops were a lifeline and had been a massive help for him, as a pension credit claimant.

He uses the money towards his gas and electricity, and to heat his home, saying he does not want to dip into his pension pot.

He is urging others, especially those who no longer receive winter fuel payments, to use the service.

"They've got to get help. Places like this, won't turn them away," he said.

The Work and Pensions department had written to 120,000 pensioners to encourage them to claim the pension credit to which they might be entitled.

That was ahead of figures released this week showing how many pensioners would be affected by the winter fuel payment cut.

Work and pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "We were forced to take difficult decisions to balance the books in light of the £22bn black hole we inherited.

"Given the dire state of the public finances, it's right that we target support to those who need it most."

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