Martin Lewis has urged those earning less than £60,000 a year to check if they are entitled to extra cash in form of benefits and allowances.
The money-saving expert, 51, advised people to make a simple 10 minute check to see if they are owed any extra money in his weekly MoneySavingExpert newsletter.
The ITV contributor revealed that Universal Credit, Council Tax Support, Pension Credit, Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, Free School Meals, Broadband Social Tariffs and Water Social Tariffs are areas where Brits on less than £60k could capitalise.
It comes after Policy in Practice revealed that £19 billion worth of benefits go unclaimed.
According to research by the organisation, £2.9 billion of council tax support is going unclaimed by over 2.7 million people.
Martin Lewis urged those earning less than £60,000 a year to check if they can get extra cash in his monthly newsletter
Martin said: ‘We’ve long urged you to check to make sure you get all the benefits you’re entitled to, knowing millions were due a share of billions.
‘And many most in need of help, often having long paid into the system, are missing out.
‘So with permission from Policy in Practice, we’ve taken its data of the numbers missing out on the main benefits, and added our own info on who can claim each of these many underclaimed benefits, to see if we can help get you what you’re due…’
Deven Ghelani, director of Policy in Practice, said if people are missing out on eligible benefits it could be the difference between households ‘keeping their heads above water and feeling they are drowning.’
Here are the list of benefits which you could be eligible for…
Universal Credit
Worth £9,600 a year
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. You should be able to qualify to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work, or you cannot work.
Estimates suggest that a whopping £7.5billion worth of Universal Credit payments go unclaimed every year.
Martin urged Brits to check if they were eligible, saying: ‘The catch-all monthly benefit to support those of working age (both in and out of work) with living and housing costs.
‘Who’s likely missing out? Households with lower incomes, or up to roughly £40,000 a year if you’ve kids, high childcare costs and rent.
‘If you’ve checked before, check again as Universal Credit rates went up in April.’
Council tax support
Worth £1,000s every year
According to research by Policy in Practice, £2.9billion of council tax support is going unclaimed by over 2.7million people.
The money expert revealed what you get depends on where you live and said the scheme can cut council tax by 100 per cent.
He said people already on Universal Credit or Pension Credit are often due Council Tax support, but it’s not automatic.
Child benefit
Worth on average £2,075 a year
Over 750,000 families are missing out on £1,000s in child benefit payments every year.
Child benefit is a monthly payment for those with parental responsibilities for children under 16 (and those under 20 if in full-time education) providing no parent earns over £60,000.
Elsewhere Martin said some new parents are missing out as they don’t realise they must register for child benefit.
Housing benefit
Worth on average £5,000 a year
A quarter of a million pensioners are missing out in £1,000s worth of rent help every year.
The expert said renters that are eligible for Pension Credit and on a low income can benefit from Housing benefit.
Meanwhile he also explained that when you apply for Pension Credit, you can usually apply for housing benefit at the same time.
Pension Credit
Worth £3,500 a year
Over 850,000 pensioners aren’t claiming Pension Credit even though they’re entitled to it.
Pension Credit tops up your income but it can also qualify people for extra benefits like council tax reduction and free TV licences.
Martin made the point that it is important to apply for Pension Credit by May 19 to ‘ensure that you qualify for the government’s £301 cost of living payment’.
Carer’s allowance
Worth up to £4,000 a year
An astonishing half a million households are missing out on carer’s allowance in the UK.
You can submit a claim for Carer’s Allowance if you look after someone for 35 hours per week or more and they receive certain benefits.
You do not have to live with them or be related and your claim can also be backdated by three months from the date you apply.
If you are working, you need to be earning less than £123 per week. This is after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
Free school meals
Worth £500 a year
Over 250,000 families are missing out on free school meals.
Free school meals is a government initiative which provides children with a nutritious meal during term time.
Children may be able to get free school meals if you get Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the guaranteed element of Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190) and Universal Credit.
Water social tariffs
Worth £160 a year
Every water company has a social tariff scheme for those on low incomes.
However fewer than two in ten that are eligible are getting the help they need, with nearly £1 billion in unclaimed support.
Broadband social tariffs
Worth £20 a month
Every little can help – and Martin explained that social tariffs are discounted broadband deals offered by some firms to people on Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
However only three percent of those eligible have signed up.
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