PENSIONERS in the Ribble Valley are missing out on £303,660 in unclaimed benefits.

A telephone survey of 174 old folk revealed payments ranging from as little as 70p to £172 per week were not being claimed.

Welfare rights officers are now urging all OAPs to get in touch to make sure they get what they are entitled to.

The survey was carried out by Lancashire County Council in conjunction with three GP practices in Clitheroe.

Out of the 174 people taking part in the survey, 109 of them were identified has having a potential claim to benefits such as attendance allowance, income support, housing benefit and invalid care allowance.

The most common situation was with lone pensioners who gained an attendance allowance but did not know they were then entitled to additional income support of around £81 a week. Pensioners found to be under claiming have since been helped with filling in the correct forms.

In many cases they have received home visits from welfare rights officers.

A similar survey was carried out in 1999 with the over 80s when £200,554 was left untapped.

The two surveys have so far helped raise an extra £500,000 a year for 200 Ribble Valley pensioners and Lancashire County Council is urging other local authorities and health professionals to carry out similar schemes.

Lancashire County Council's Welfare Rights and Social Inclusion sub-committee will discuss the scheme at a meeting next Wednesday.