Thousands could be missing out on vital benefits in Middlesbrough
One couple were found to be missing out on ÂŁ16,000 a year.
Thousands of families in Middlesbrough could be missing out on vital benefits that could change their life.
Middlesbrough Council have joined up with the Citizen's Advice Bureau in a bid to help the most vulnerable in Teesside get the right payments.
It's believed around the total unclaimed benefits reaches ÂŁ7 billion every year, with most of it staying in central government control.
Many people don't know what benefits are available or are confused by the application process.
Joanne McNally is Middlesbrough Council's Partnership Co-ordinator, she said: "A lot of these people are scared because when they go to claim they get the forms and they don't know what to put.
"A lot of them have worked all their lives and they're entitled to this money.
"It'll increase their health and wellbeing as well.
"Whether you're working low hours, in a low paid job, a pensioner, people with children, people with illness or disability.
"It takes a few minutes to get a check and you don't know if you are going to be entitled."
One of the success stories of the campaign is a couple of retirement age who found out they could have been claiming an extra ÂŁ16,000 a year.
Phil Hodgson, Project Manager at Citizen's Advice Bureau, said: "The ÂŁ3 million we've managed to claim is essentially the tip of the iceberg.
"The longer that we go on and the more support we get, the more we can claim back.
"You have to remember that money goes directly back into the community and the people living in the community."