Three Rivers District Council unanimously called for national reform, when it was revealled 1.7million pensioners across the country missed out on vital payments last year.

In particular, councillors criticised the 18 page form which must be filled out in order to apply for Pension Credit.

Marion Birch, chief executive of Age Concern Hertfordshire, explained that Pension Credit tops up the income of older people who rely on the state pension alone.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Les Mead suggested that last year, a thousand pensioners living in Three Rivers missed out on £1,700 each in unclaimed Pension Credit and accompanying benefits.

One accompanying benefit is the cold weather payment. Weekly supplements of £25 a week are paid to people who are on low income and receive certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, to help them pay their heating bill.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Les Mead said: "Vulnerable residents who cannot afford to keep their homes warm during the cold weather, face the impossible choice of whether to eat or heat.

"Cold weather payments are meant to help keep warm those who are amongst the poorest in society, and the vast majority of those receiving the payments are pensioners."

The temperature has to drop to zero degrees Celsius or below at a local weather station, over a period of seven consecutive days, before the cold weather payments are distributed.

Councillor Mead said: "Even when pensioners have filled in the forms, the government still puts barriers in the way of our local residents getting the money they deserve. Cold weather payments are made according to postcode, and our neighbours in Amersham, Gerrards Cross, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans have received three payments for three weeks of bad weather.

The WD postcodes that cover most of the district are grouped together with warmer areas of London, and only qualified for one payment.

Councillor Mead added: "We are just as cold as our neighbouring communities and far colder than inner and suburban London. The thought that our residents have had only one cold week this winter is patently nonsense."

Talking to the Labour councillors, County Councillor Chris Hayward, said: "This is a completely unfair situation, you should be ashamed of yourselves gentlemen."

The chief executive of the district council agreed to contact the Secretary of State with the concerns at last night's Full Council meeting.

For more information on Pension Credit telephone Age Concern Hertfordshire, who run benefit information surgeries, on 0845 601 3446.