Millions of people across the UK miss out on a staggering ‘£23 billion’ in benefits every year, according to gurus at Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert (MSE). The newsletter explains that much of the Government’s financial support is simply left unclaimed, despite the nation’s ongoing struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.
Now, MSE has issued an important warning, urging the public to stop assuming that benefits don’t apply to them and start checking their eligibility. Its experts explained: “The inflation figures that the Government normally uses to calculate next April’s benefit rises have just been announced – it’s dropped to 1.7% this month, lower than figures in recent months (though do note the Govt’s not officially confirmed the changes yet).
“So it’s a good time to remind you that BILLIONS in benefits goes unclaimed each year – most by workers or pensioners who have paid into the system for yonks and are in need of help, but think ‘benefits aren’t for me’ or ‘I won’t qualify’.”
You may be surprised to know that Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance sat near the top of MSE’s list for some of the most unclaimed Government benefits. In a nutshell, Universal Credit refers to a payment for unemployed individuals or those on a low income below the State Pension age.
Meanwhile, Attendance Allowance regards financial support for people at State Pension age with long term physical or mental conditions or disabilities. Both are Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) schemes.
Shockingly, MSE suggests that a concerning 1.1 million pensioners miss out on ‘at least £3,778 a year’ in Attendance allowance, while 1.4 million are overlooking an ‘average of up to £5,800 a year’ in Universal Credit.
For the latter, MSE especially urged households with a £35,000 annual income to check their eligibility, in addition to parents with high childcare costs and rent receiving a combined total of around £60,000 per year.
Aside from this, MSE said that hundreds of thousands of people are missing out on Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit and the Housing Benefit too. But council tax support trumped them all, as a concerning 2.25 million overlook £1,500 per year in benefits, according to the gurus.
Even free school meals, worth £490 per year for under-18s, are left unnoticed by a worrying 470,000 families, with many Universal Credit claimants reportedly among them. The newsletter adds that other parents also don’t realise that you need to re-register at the start of every school year.
The experts continue: “Claiming benefits is often a gateway to other discounts, such as broadband social tariffs, so if you have success claiming above, check if you’re then eligible. Simply being on a low income could qualify you for a water social tariff, so check that too, even if you’re not eligible for benefits.”
For more information on the following benefits and eligibility criteria, please see the following Government links: