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One of the reasons is that many people don't realise they qualify for them.
Benefits and other government support are not just for those who are out of work. Millions of households on low incomes are also losing out.
Each year the government releases data showing how much is going unclaimed.
The benefits experts at entitledto estimate that about £15 billion is not being claimed.
Government support that's going unclaimed includes:
If you’re responsible for bringing up a child who’s under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training, you’ll get child benefit. This is an allowance that’s paid to you for each child (usually every 4 weeks).
There’s no limit to how many children you can claim child benefit for, and only 1 person can get this benefit for a child.
If you’re over state pension age and on a low income, pension credit can give you extra money to help with living costs.
You’ll need to meet the eligibility criteria to be able to claim, and the amount you’ll receive will based on:
If you’re eligible, council tax support (also known as council tax reduction) can give you a discount on your bill. For example, you may be able to claim a council tax discount if you live alone.
Each council has its own scheme for council tax support, so the amount you could get can vary depending on where you live. There’s a different scheme in Northern Ireland.
Universal credit is a payment made by the government to help with living costs. It’s usually paid monthly, but in Scotland you can choose to have it paid twice a month.
It was brought in to replace benefits, including housing benefit and working tax credits.
If you think you might be missing out on some of these benefits, you can check using this free calculator:
The calculator can help you feel more confident about your finances.
It’s free to use and should only take 10 minutes to complete. You just enter details such as your income, dependent children and housing costs.
The details you give are anonymous and entitledto doesn't collect any personally identifiable information, unless you choose to submit it.
The calculator then gives an estimate of any benefits you might qualify for and how to apply for them.
This article was last updated on 03/04/2024, 09:08
We’ve made every effort to make sure it’s accurate and up to date, but please make your own checks before doing anything.
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