PEOPLE struggling on just their pension found they were entitled to more money - and one man's income increased by £100 a week thanks to an Age Concern Somerset campaign.
The welfare rights drive from April 10 to 14 encouraged older people to get in touch for a welfare benefits check and there were four times the usual number of enquiries.
During the awareness week, Age Concern Somerset dealt with 105 referrals - almost as many as in the whole of March when there were 108.
A further 300 information packs were handed out during a tour of the county, which included stops in West Somerset.
Welfare benefits service co-ordinator Rhiannon Bainbridge said it was a resounding success: "We had an overwhelming response from the public.
"During the week, we had some particularly poignant tales of older people trying to manage purely on their pension.
"In some cases, we have been able to double an older person's income - one gentleman's income increased by £100 a week."
Nationally, £1.7 billion in means tested benefits such as housing benefit, income support, Council Tax benefit or attendance allowance went unclaimed by older people last year.
Some people did not know they were entitled to anything while others did not know where to go for free, independent advice.
Rhiannon said: "Our staff will now be working to help everyone who contacted us receive their full entitlement. "And of course, the more people who come forward for our help, the more we need volunteers to act as advocates to help older people claim their rights."