Nearly 5,000 pensioners in Redbridge miss out on £1,800 a year in benefits, it has been revealed as a Know Your Rights campaign is launched.

The Greater London Authority, Age UK London, Citizen Advice Bureau and Carers Trust are urging pensioners in the borough not to miss out on their pension credits.

Around 4,800 miss out on an extra £35 a week and one in three pensioners don’t claim pension credits which they are eligible for. They can be eligible for guarantee credit, which tops up weekly income to a minimum level guaranteed by the government or savings credit, for people with an income higher than the basic state pension or with a small amount of savings.

If your pension is less than £142 a week or your joint pension is less than £217, you could be missing out.

Carers could also be missing out on £58.45 a week in carers’ allowance. Pensioners can call Age UK on 0800 169 6565 or contact their Citizens Advice Bureau for a credit check.