HE HAS been paying into the system since he started work in a blacksmiths at the age of 10, standing on a box so he could reach the anvil.

But at the age of 81, just months after his long overdue retirement from that same job, Fred Harriss could barely afford to eat.

Mr Harriss, from Charlbury, was on the brink of selling his bungalow after he was left waiting nine months for the benefits he was entitled to.

When he retired last December, the great-grandfather of eight was receiving a basic £97 a week pension.

But he was forced to spend a quarter of that on council tax, mortgage repayments and bills.

Unbeknown to him he should have also received pension credits, housing and council tax relief.

Now an older peoples’ group is urging OAPs to look into what benefits they are entitled to.

He said: “My children had to support me by buying me bits of food shopping, and I survived on things from the freezer.

“Things got so bad I was preparing to sell my home and move in with my son.”

West Oxfordshire District Council put him in touch with Age UK Oxfordshire, which helped him to make the application for his benefit payments.

The Department for Work and Pensions has apologised for the inconvenience and Mr Harriss has got payments backdated to January and is expecting £86 compensation.

He said of his former job: “It was bloody, dirty, back-breaking work — but I loved every minute of it.

“When I retired I didn’t know what I was entitled to.”

Mr Harriss added: “It has been a weight off my shoulders and I can sleep better at night.

Age UK’s Jess Brown said his case was one of the most extreme she had dealt with.

She said: “He became very ill and it was having a real impact on his health.

“The pensions service send out one person to help pensioners.

“But if they don’t have all the forms then and there, they don’t get a second visit.“ She urged anyone concerned about benefits to call 0844 887 0005.