Britain's poorest pensioners are “dying early” because £3.1billion of benefits go unclaimed.
Many are forced to ration their food and heating because they do not realise they could be getting Pension Credit – worth around £49 a week for every eligible household.
It ensures couples have at least £255.25 a week to live on and single pensioners £167.25.
But many are said to be unaware of it – or find the paperwork too hard.
Age UK’s Caroline Abrahams said two in five eligible people miss out.
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She said: “Older people don’t claim for a number of reasons – lack of awareness, difficulty filling in long, complex and intrusive forms, and a sense of shame at being so hard up in the first place.”
George McNamara, of charity Independent Age, warned of two million pensioners “living in poverty and more just above the breadline”.
Pensioner Eve Freer, 79, said the cash gave her “peace of mind that money is coming so you don’t need to turn your central heating off or sit in the dark or go hungry”.
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Eve, of Droitwich, West Mids, said: “A lot of people out there are possibly under great hardship because they’re not being well informed.”
Labour MP Chris Ruane, who obtained the figures, said: “It would allow the poorest pensioners in the country to have confidence to switch on heating when they need it and buy food they need for a healthy lifestyle.
“Without this funding, many of them will not be doing that and will be dying early.
“The Government must identify people missing out and give them what is theirs.”
Pensions Minister Guy Opperman said: “The Government is committed to ensuring older people receive the support they are entitled to.”
