The Lib Dems have claimed that more then one million pensioners will miss out on cold weather payments this year.
Almost two million elderly people will not receive cold weather payments this winter, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.
The party said that many Britons who are eligible for benefits such as pensions credits or income support are not claiming these payments.
Cold weather payments of £25 a week are made to people with low incomes when the mercury drops to zero degrees C or below for seven consecutive days or more.
However, the Lib Dems claim that up to 1.7 million Britons who are eligible for such payments are not applying for them.
Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat spokesman for work and pensions, said: "Fuel prices are at an all time high, making cold weather payments all the more important to people already struggling on a poverty pension."
Pensioners’ energy bills have been much in the news recently as Britain continues to be gripped by a continuing cold wave and there has been concern about elderly people’s ability to cope with rising fuel prices.
One way in which people can boost their income to cope with these costs is through equity release. 
