Martin Lewis has revealed there are six key benefits which people commonly fail to claim even though they are in fact eligible. Speaking on Good Morning Britian the Money Saving Expert founder gave some key tips to help the neediest sections of society the help they desperately need.
Co-host on the ITV show Susanna Reid said: “It is wallet Wednesday, and millions of people across the UK are missing out on a share of £19 billion in unclaimed benefits. That’s according to figures from the think tank policy in Practise.”
Mr Lewis highlighted six key areas where people could claim tens of thousands of pounds in some cases. He also said that a key way of checking is to use the government’s online benefits calculator. It can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators . Mr Lewis said million of people are not getting the support they need - and added that in the biggest one - water social tariffs - most had no idea whatsoever that it even exists.
Universal Credit
Susanna Reid said that 1.25 million people missing out on an average of around £9,600 a year. Mr Lewis said: “The crucial thing to understand here is this is not just for people out of work. 41% of universal credit applicants people who get universal credit are in work. So first, if you’ve got a low income, whether you’re working or not, if you’ve got a low income, you will want to check this out.”
He explained that even households with income of up to £40,000 a year might get some universal credit. He said: “If you’ve got Children and you’re paying for childcare and you’re paying for rent, you could still be entitled to universal credit. So that’s my rule of thumb family income below 40 grand get yourself on an online benefits calculator. It’ll take about 10 minutes. Put your details in and see if you’re entitled to this. And even if you checked a year ago because the thresholds went up in April, there are a few people, not too many, but a few people who are now eligible who weren’t eligible before.”
Pension Credit
Susanna told the audience: “Meanwhile, 850,000 households are missing out on an average of £3500 a year in pension credit, and there’s a deadline looming.” Mr Lewis said that there is a key deadline - people claiming pensions credit are also eligible for cost of living payments. He explained: “Pension credit is an income top up and a gateway benefit. It both gives you income, and it means you’re entitled to lots of other benefits. And one of those is the cost of living payments. Now there’s one of £301 being made at the moment, And if you get pension credit by this Friday, then you get that £301 as well as your pension credit.” Pensions credit is for single people with income below £220 a week, or a couple both of state pension age, with income below £320 a week. Potentially pensions credit could be worth £3,500 a year.
Housing benefit with universal credit
Mr Lewis explained that many who are eligible aren’t getting it because it isn’t added on automatically for those who are on universal credit, unlike pensions credit - they have to apply for it. He said: “There are 250,000 pensioners missing out on another five grand a year in housing benefit because with universal credit, while housing benefit is automatic with pension credit, you have to apply. You can do it when you’re applying for pension credit the first time. Or if you already get pension credit and you’re struggling with your rent, then apply at your local Council for Housing benefit as well.”
Council tax support
Susanna asked Martin: “Three million people missing out on support that could get them more than £1000 a year. How can you help them?” He explained: “This one is a big one. Each council does it differently. Some councils, you won’t pay any council tax at all who may be missing out well, if you’re on means-tested benefits. The big point here. You must apply for this separately to your universal credit and pension credit application, and people don’t know it’s available. They don’t know they need to apply. That’s why three million are missing out. You apply via your local council. If you’re on universal credit, pension credit or other means-tested benefits, then you might want to speak to your council to see if you’re one of those three million people who could be getting this help.”
Carers allowance
An estimated 500,000 people are missing out on up to £4,000 a year in carer’s allowance. Mr Lewis explained that to quality you have to be carrying out more than 35 hours a week unpaid. He added: “Caring can just be, you know, cooking, cleaning, helping somebody dress all of these things, taking them out when they need to go out. The person you’re caring for must be someone who gets attendance allowance or sometimes personal independence payments or disability living allowance. You must earn under around 140 quid a week after tax or be on a low state pension, so quite difficult there. These are the unpaid support staff of our country, and we need to support them. This isn’t the biggest payment in the world, but it will help.”Mr Lewis said that if you get under 35 hours a week in hours to check out carers credit. Those eligible don’t get any money, but might get national insurance credits that will help towards state pension when they’re older.
Water social tariffs
Susanna said that 5.7 million households are missing out on an average £160 a year with just 20 per cent of those eligible claiming it. Mr Lewis said: “The biggest one of all being missed out the least known one. Every water company has to have its own social tariff. Now, this is for people on lower incomes. Only two in 10 people who are eligible for this claiming this right now. So what you need to do if you’re on a lower income and you’re struggling to pay your water bill or even if you’re not, if you’re just on a lower income, so go to your firm’s website and search social tariffs. If you’re not online, call up the firm and see if there’s any help. And there’s more help, too. If you’re on a water metre, the water shore scheme for those on benefits. If you have medical need, which means you need to use more water or you’ve got three plus school age children, that’s an extra help that you get as well as this or separately to this.”
And Mr Lewis emphasised that helping yourself is key by checking on benefits calculators. He added: “Millions of people are missing out on so much vital support in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”
