Martin Lewis' warning to households earning less than £40,000

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has warned households who earn under £40,000 to check whether they are eligible for additional financial help saying that many people are missing out. The finance guru has said that many people have been caught out by the "common misconception" that you can only claim benefits if you are unemployed.

The Money Saving Expert newsletter, of which Mr Lewis is a founder, have reminded people of this urging people to use a benefits calculator to find what government support is available reports LancsLive.

The newsletter has said that this is expecially relevant to people with a household income of under £40,000 and they could be eligible for extra DWP payments. Find all of our money content here.

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The Money Saving Expert website says: "The main thing to remember is benefits are not just for the unemployed. State support is designed to help those in a range of situations, from those struggling on a low income, to new families, to those with long standing medical conditions. Even someone earning a high salary could be eligible for some help.

"Government figures show that up to seven-and-a-half million households are missing out on around £15 billion a year of means-tested benefits. That's without including non-means-tested benefits, such as those for people with disabilities, so if you're in need of support it's well worth a 10-minute check."

There is a calculator on the website to work out wether you can benefit from the payments but people would then have to call the relevant Government office to confirm the support they are entitled to, which will be dependent on their exact circumstances.

The website adds: "It's a common misconception that benefits are only available if you're out of work – but even some families with an income of £50,000 or more can qualify for help. With the cost of living rising, it's more important than ever to know what you're entitled to."

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