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Pensioners on low incomes have been urged to check if they’re eligible to receive pension credits.

South Wales East Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for older people, said around 70,000 pensioners in Wales are eligible for pension credits but don’t claim them.

By submitting a claim for pension credits before Thursday, August 18, an older person will be eligible for a £650 cost-of-living payment from the UK Government.

Single pensioners whose weekly income is less than £182.60 are likely to qualify for the payment.

Mr Owen Griffiths has called on the Welsh Government to do more to raise awareness of pension credits and encourage a higher take-up.

He said: “The 70,000 pensioners in Wales who are eligible but have yet to receive this cash will be living under the breadline and struggling daily.

“It also means our communities are losing millions of pounds every year. That is unfair and something needs to be done by Labour Ministers to bring that figure down.”

Encouraging pensioners to apply for the support, Mr Owen Griffiths added: “It is vital that people claim the benefits they are entitled to maximise their household income.

“It is unfortunate that tens of thousands of pensioners who are eligible for pension credit payments, have yet to apply.

“Pension credit can also provide access to numerous other benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills and a free TV licence for those aged 75 or over.”

To apply for pension credits, the Pension Credit claim line can be called on 0800 991234 or texted on 0800 169 0133.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recently ran a national Claim What’s Yours campaign across TV, radio, print and social channels to raise people’s awareness of what they’re able to claim to help them with the rising cost of living, including Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance. Over 8,000 people responded to the campaign and have since claimed over £2.1m of additional benefit income.

“In July, we announced a further £90m investment to extend the Fuel Support scheme, this extension of the scheme will mean nearly 200,000 more households on child tax credits, pension credits, disability benefits, carers allowance, contributory benefits and those receiving help from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, will now be eligible.”

They added: “Through our Single Advice Fund, partners are also working together to reach older people to raise awareness of their welfare benefit entitlements. So far almost 4,000 people aged over 65 have been helped to claim welfare benefit income totalling £12m and to manage debts of £1.9m.”