What You're Entitled To...but may not be claiming
- BetterAskAdam.com
- Feb 25, 2024
- 3 min read
£16 billion worth of benefits go unclaimed, according to the organisation which helps those on benefits, Entitledto.co.uk. They say that’s partly because more pensioners are missing out, but also the people who didn't claim their £900 cost-of-living payment.
The Biggest Benefits People Are Missing Out On
Using the DWP’s central estimate, in 2022 around 63% of pensioners who were entitled to Pension Credit claimed it.
So that means roughly a third of pensioners who are entitled to the benefit,
failed to get it.
It might be that some people feel the crash from a single benefit isn't worth the admin hassle of getting it, but this can have unforeseen knock-on effects. That's because of what are known as Passported Benefits. Getting one benefit, allows you access (a passport) to another. So in not claiming one benefit, you are actually missing out on loots of other benefits, to which you are entitled.
Benefits and tax credits which can passport you to other benefits or schemes include:
Income Support
Jobseekers Allowance (income-based)
Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
Pension Credit (guarantee credit)
Universal Credit
What can I get?
If you, or your partner, are in receipt of one of the above benefits you may also be entitled to: [1]
Help with health costs, including: free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, wigs, fabric supports, eye tests, vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses and help with cost of travel for NHS treatment or referral by a doctor or dentist.
Housing grants
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Energy Efficiency Grants
Warm Home Discount
Moving To Universal Credit
To make things simpler, the Government has been moving people from a range of benefits to one umbrella scheme called Universal Credit. That can be a really good thing, and I can see why someone might want to offer to move to Universal Credit (UC) to simplify their lives. But be cautious abut doing this.
The advice from Entitled.co.uk is that you should generally only move to UC when you get a 'Migration Letter' telling you to do so, otherwise it I possible that you will see the amount you get, fall.
That's because under UC you might get less benefit than you were entitled to beforehand. To help with this move, the government offers you something called Tansition Protection - an extra payment which covers the shortfall. But the extra payment goes down over time and so eventually you will be on the regular UC rate. So it may reduce the amount you get in the long-term by voluntarily moving to the new system, earlier than needed.
Are Inflation Rate Increases Fair?
This is more a political and social issue than a personal finance one. But it is worth mentioning,
Benefits are raised in April by the RPI rate from the previous September. That would mean benefits will rise by 6.7%. But the inflation rate of basic cheapo goods can be much higher than the rate of general inflation. For instance in March 2023 food inflation was 19%, although it is more in line with general inflation now. [2]
So there is an argument that benefits should rise by some other measure than general RPI.
How To Get Help
Citizens Advice Bureau are generally a great way to get free help but in this particular case you can also go to the website entitledto.co.uk to use their benefit calculator which seems really good.
Please do send me any questions which I can answer live on Monday's Money Matters on Times Radio
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