Could you be entitled to a share of £22.7billion of unclaimed benefits?
Did you know, that Policy in Practice found that £22.7 billion of financial support, including income related benefits and social tariffs (but excluding disability benefits and discretionary support) goes unclaimed each year?
Read more below and find out how you can check what you might be entitled to claim…
Our services support people experiencing poverty, homelessness and disadvantage from across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
We see first-hand the difference receiving support can make, and also the help our teams can give to assist individuals and families as they navigate the sometimes complex systems and processes to ensure they receive what they are entitled to.
Some people we work with presume they won’t be eligible for support or others are also put off by the stigma around claiming benefits or seeking help, and this can impact a wide range of people, including families and older people.
But, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report that ‘more than one in five people in the UK (22%) are in poverty’, which equates to around two in every ten adults and approximately three in every ten children living in poverty.
In our area, latest End Child Poverty statistics show that almost three quarters of Local Authorities in the Diocese of Salford have more than 40% of children living in poverty. It’s a staggering number of people and highlights that it’s arguably more important than ever that people receive the much-needed support that will help them at a time of acute need.
The support which has the highest value unclaimed is Universal Credit. Universal Credit provides financial support for living costs and rent for people both in and out of work, and can be a significant source of help for people who need support with higher rents, childcare or health issues which affect their ability to work. This is why ensuring that people can claim what they are entitled to is so important.
For older people, for example, pension credit isn’t always something that is being received but is helpful in a number of ways. As well as being worth, on average, £2,677 a year to eligible people, it can also unlock other support such as housing benefit and council tax support. It also opens up eligibility for social tariffs, the warm home discount, cheaper broadband, free TV licences, lower water bills and the winter fuel payment. In Greater Manchester, it is estimated that there are around 38,000 eligible households not claiming pension credit.
Lorraine Cumbo, manager of our Lalley centre which supports people experiencing poverty locally, said: “Some people who have poor mental health, or no support and limited computer skills are really struggling. It causes them so much anguish and stress, and when you live in a world of technology where you need to access to the internet in order to manage your benefits, you have no choice but to access support. When they come to our centre, people often say they don’t feel judged, but they feel safe and supported, given confidence to try things for themselves, safe in the knowledge they can come back if they get stuck.”
The Government website has a benefits calculator you can use to check what you might be entitled to, and our teams at our day centres are always happy to help too. Do get in touch with them if you need any assistance.