By ensuring that means-tested benefits are fully adopted, the government could help approximately half a million pensioners escape poverty, a new report from Help the Aged states.

Dubbed Meeting the Challenge – defeating pensioner poverty, the report was carried out by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Millions of pensioners do not claim the benefits that they are entitled to, the research found.

A system of automatic payments, however, would make sure that the oldest section of society gets the benefits that they are entitled to.

Anna Pearson, policy manager for Help the Aged, said: "This report is the undeniable proof that pensioner poverty can be overcome.

"Automatic payment of benefits would make a massive difference to older people devastated by pensioner poverty".

Help the Aged is an international charity which aims to help older people who are disadvantaged escape poverty and abuse.

A main goal of the charity is to fight ageism and "win equality and human rights for … older people".