Martin Lewis has issued a plea to households bringing in less than £40,000 a year — check your eligibility for Universal Credit.
The Money Saving Expert believes millions of people could be missing out on the benefit and says use of a simple benefit calculator could easily indicate whether someone is entitled to benefits or not.
Giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport sub-committee on Online Harms and Disinformation, Lewis stressed highlighted that not everyone earning less than £40k would get the credit, but there was no harm in checking.
"My rule of thumb is if you have family income of under £40,000 then you should absolutely check on a benefits calculator whether you are entitled to Universal Credit," he told the Liverpool Echo. He also said previously on his ITV Money Show: "There are up to seven million of you who are eligible and who are missing out."
He said it was "definitely worth 10 minutes of your time to go onto an online benefits calculator". He advised: "Benefits aren't just for those out of work — 40 per cent of those on Universal Credit are in work."
Universal Credit is the means-tested benefit designed to help people on lower incomes with their living costs. It is paid either monthly or twice a month (for some people in Scotland). According to the Government, you could be eligible if you are out of work, working, or unable to work through poor health.
The Government's own benefits calculator could help you to see what benefits you could receive.
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