More than £10 million in unclaimed pension credits awaits Oxfordshire's pensioners, with local organisations encouraging claims.

Age UK Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council are urging older residents to assess their eligibility for pension credit.

Pension credit is an income-related benefit which tops up weekly income to £201.05 per week for a single person and £306.85 for couples.

It is currently believed that approximately 5,000 pensioners in Oxfordshire are not claiming these benefits, which amounts to an unclaimed £10.4 million.

Paul Ringer, CEO of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: "We are aware of the very real pressures and challenges that the cost of living rise is creating for people day to day, and with recent data showing that such a large amount of pension credit lies unclaimed in Oxfordshire, we urge people to check whether they or a family member might be entitled to some of that income."

Registration for pension credit can help claimants access further financial aid from other support schemes.

Oxfordshire County Council’s director for adult social care, Karen Fuller, said: "It’s quite astonishing that more than ten million pounds worth of support is going unclaimed by people in Oxfordshire who have worked hard all their lives to receive such an entitlement."

Pension credit can provide aid in housing, council tax, heating costs and, for those over 75 years, continued entitlement to a free TV licence.

To apply or inquire about pension credit's eligibility criteria, residents can contact Age UK Oxfordshire’s free information helpline at 0345 450 1276, or use their free online benefits calculator.