Marvin OnumonuFour in 10 pensioner homeowners have never checked if they could get state benefits beyond their pension, research from Just Group found.
The survey, based on 2,000 people aged over 66, showed only 15% of renters had never checked if they were entitled to extra state help.
Renters were more active in checking their eligibility, with 44% saying they had checked in the past year, compared to 29% of homeowners.
Research also found that another 30% of renters had checked over a year ago, while only 20% of owners had done the same.
Further data from the report revealed that 79% of pensioner homeowners were not claiming any benefits they were eligible for, missing out on an average £1,807 a year.
Another 9% were under-claiming and missing out on an average £2,915.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “This research, published hot on the heels of ‘Awful April’ which saw many household bills rise for pensioners across the country, underlines the importance of people checking to see if they are entitled to additional State Benefits.
“It is concerning that pensioner homeowners do not check their eligibility for valuable financial support, suggesting a common assumption that home ownership disqualifies them from benefits like Pension Credit.
“Our own work with pensioner homeowners confirms that many are missing out on thousands of pounds every year in unclaimed benefits.”
Lowe added: “We encourage all pensioners – whether homeowners or not – not to assume they are ineligible for support, and instead to make use of the many free resources available to help identify benefit entitlements and guide them through the claims process.”
