Millions of people urged to do 10-minute check for unclaimed DWP and Council Tax cash

A quick check could help see if you are missing out on cash
-Credit:Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF


People across the UK are being urged to carry out a 10-minute check to see if they are owed benefits or council tax discounts they do not know about. According to think-tank Policy in Practice, almost £23 billion of income-related benefits and social tariffs remains unclaimed every year.

Policy in Practice wants to 'maximise the income for low income households, making access to the welfare system simpler, fairer, and more efficient'. Now, Money Saving Expert has scoured the report and found that 1.4 million people could be missing out on Universal Credit.

There could also be 1.1m pensioners who are entitled to Attendance Allowance and a further 760,000 eligible for Pension Credit. About 530,000 people could be due Carer’s Allowance, while 2.25m households may be missing out on council tax savings of up to £850 each year.

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Underclaimed means-tested benefits

You could be entitled to extra financial support if you are in work but on a low income, living with a long-term health condition or disability, raising a family or recently bereaved. A summary of underclaimed means-tested benefits revealed that there Universal Credit is not being claimed by 1.4m, who are missing out on an average of up to £5,800 each year.

Attendance Allowance is being missed by 1.1m people over State Pension age, who are not getting at least £3,778 each year, Daily Record reports. There are 760,000 pensioners who are not claiming an average of £4,200 in Pension Credit each year.

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Council Tax Support is going unclaimed by up to 2.25m people, who are not getting the £850 discount each year they could be entitled to. Carer’s Allowance is not being claimed by 530,000 people unpaid carers, who are missing out on £4,250 each year.

There are also 294,000 State Pensioners who are not claiming Housing Benefit and are missing out on an average £4,400 each year in help with rental costs. MSE.com is urging everyone to use a benefits calculator to see if they are missing out.

A successful claim for one benefit can also act as a gateway to other financial support, including discounts and social tariffs - find out more here. Most benefits need to be claimed from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) or Social Security Scotland.

The end-to-end application journey time can take up to 17 weeks for disability payments but others have a quicker turnaround. An online benefits calculator can help give you an estimate of how much you could claim.

Who should check for unclaimed benefits or discounts?

You should check if:

  • You are temporarily unable to work, including because of ill health

  • You are of working age on a low income

  • You are over State Pension age on a low income

  • You have been made redundant

  • You are looking for work

  • You are raising a family

  • You have a child who is disabled or has a health condition

  • You are disabled or have a health condition

  • You are caring for someone

  • You have lost a loved one

What is an online benefits calculator?

Online benefit calculators work out if you could be eligible for benefits. They are free and confidential.

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You could find out how much you may be able to claim in extra support, just by entering details about yourself, your residential status, your working status and any savings you have.

You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out:

  • What benefits you could get

  • How to claim

  • How your benefits will be affected if you start work

Benefits calculators include:

What you will need before you start

Gather the following information before you start and the process should just take about 10 minutes:

  • Savings

  • Income, including your partner’s

  • Existing benefits and pensions - including anyone living with you

  • Outgoings - such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments

  • Your latest Council Tax bill