Manchester council has been investigating to what extent carers – people who look after loved ones who are sick or vulnerable – have been missing out on benefits.

The results are astonishing.

In one exercise, town hall officers gave detailed advice to 88 carers and found 70 per cent were missing out on benefits worth £185,000 a year.

I imagine other councils across the country would find exactly the same thing if they did similar checks.

It’s an odd time to be arguing for a higher benefits bill for Britain – but surely we want those who deserve their entitlements to be claiming everything they should?