A pile of cash is waiting to be claimed

Official figures from the government show how the UK's poorest are still failing to claim billions of pounds worth of benefits.

Opposition spokesmen said the figures were further evidence that means-testing was failing, with take-up even falling in some benefit categories.

Critics say vulnerable groups are missing out, because the system is too complex and intrusive, and are urging the government to rethink its approach.

The government disputes there is a problem, however, and said the figures confirmed that its policies were working.

Low take-up

The figures are the first on benefit take-up for 18 months.

In total, the Conservatives said they figures showed �5bn a year was not reaching some of the poorest people in the country.

Age Concern said up to a third of the poorest and most vulnerable older people were still missing out on entitled benefits such as the Minimum Income Guarantee.

According to an analysis of the figures by the Child Poverty Action Group:

Unclaimed Income support:: �240m- �860m. Number of people entitled to claim but not claiming: between 120,000 and 330,000.

Unclaimed minimum income guarantee: �470m-�820m. Number of pensioners entitled but not claiming: between 450,000 and 670,000.

Unclaimed housing benefit: �360m- �960m. Number of households entitled and not claiming: between 240,000 and 580,000.

Unclaimed council tax benefit:�590m- �860m. Number of households entitled but not claiming: between 1,450,000 and 2,000,000.

Unclaimed job seeker's allowance (income-based): �650m-�1,040mn. Number of people entitled but not claiming: between 300,000 and 450,000.

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesman Steve Webb said it was "particularly shocking" that so many pensioners were failing to claim benefits that should be theirs by right.

"Pensioners and other families are missing out on a massive scale," he said.