Gordon Brown's expansion of means testing is failing to help the poorest pensions, David Willetts has warned.

The shadow work and pensions secretary says that poorer pensioners are receiving less than the government's Minimum Income Guarantee due to the complexity of the means testing system.

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director-general of Age Concern England, told ePolitix.com: "While we welcome extra cash for pensioners through the Minimum Income Guarantee and Pension Credit, the money will only make a difference if it reaches the pockets of older people.

"Hundreds of thousands of pensioners fail to claim means-tested benefits, put off by stigma or because they don't understand their rights.

"It is vital that the government sets more ambitious targets for take-up of income-related benefits that increase year on year. Otherwise many of the poorest, hardest to reach older people will continue to be left empty-handed."

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "We have all known for some time that means testing is a barrier to the take up of benefits.

"I hope that David Willets remarks will be translated into a Conservative Party manifesto commitment to abolish means tests and give every pensioner a good retirement income."