As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, money expert Martin Lewis is urging people to carry out a 10-minute check to ensure they are not among the millions missing out on benefits.
The founder of the Money Saving Expert website says that an estimated 7.5m households earning less than £40,000 of income could be missing out and urged families to take time to check which benefits they may be entitled to.
The website points that a "common misconception" is that benefits are available only to the unemployed and, in its latest newsletter, it urges households across the UK with a combined income of less than £40,000 to use a benefits calculator to see if they can receive extra Government support with bills.
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It 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."
The website offers its own benefits calculator to help work out what people are due in low income support. It also highlights some other relevant benefits that may apply, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
People do, however, have to call the relevant Government office to confirm the support they are entitled to, which will be dependent upon their 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." For more of the advice available on the Money Saving Expert website see here.
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