The figures show that, in December, the Pension Credit application line received 193,900 application calls - 8,430 calls per working day. With 1,300 workers taking calls, the average member of staff has received only 7 applications a day. Despite the shortage of calls to answer, in March 2004 the number of staff will increase from the current 1,300 to 1,400.

So far the take up of the Pension Credit has been poor. The Government has only managed to pay Pension Credit to an additional 231,859 pensioner households who were not receiving its predecessor - the Minimum Income Guarantee. About half of those eligible for the Pension Credit are missing out.

Cllr Ian Smith, Leader of Knowsley MBC's Liberal Democrat opposition party, said: "It’s shocking that Pension Credit call centres are dealing with so few calls. Fewer calls mean fewer Knowsley pensioners getting money which is rightfully theirs.

"The Government has known for years that the poorest pensioners fail to claim complex means-tested benefits. Things have gone from bad to worse with the new Pension Credit. Einstein would struggle to understand how it works.

"For all this complexity, the Government would better serve pensioners by increasing the pension, especially for older pensioners who are often the most needy.

"The Government’s approach of writing to 80% of pensioners telling them about the Pension Credit after the benefit became available has meant that many vulnerable people have gone through an expensive cold winter without the money to which they are entitled."
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