NEW analysis has found that over £23 billion worth of welfare benefits went unclaimed in the last year.
The report, by Policy in Practice, found that the number had risen from £19bn the year before and that figures could be closer to £30bn if it were to analyse disability benefits and discretionary support.
Universal credit is the most unclaimed benefit at £8.3bn, with an estimated 1.4 million missing out on this type of support.
This is followed by carer’s allowance (£2.3bn), pension credit (£2.2 bn) and child benefit (£1.7 bn).
The analysis said that most claimants are simply unaware that certain benefits exist and cited navigating complex criteria as a serious barrier.
The report comes as household debt rises to £8.8bn a year.
Policy in Practice managing director Jade Alsop said: "Our findings show that as a society, we can’t afford not to consider these measures to prevent further costs to our health, education and social care services.
“It is estimated that, by improving pension credit take-up alone, the cost of social care will decrease by £4bn a year.”
Claire Atchia McMaster, director of income and external affairs at anti-poverty charity Turn2Us, said that feedback they receive indicates that accessing benefits is “complicated, inaccessible and emotionally draining.”
She said: “This complexity prevents millions from claiming vital support, exacerbating financial insecurity and impacting wellbeing.”
Ms McMaster called for clearer action from the government to ensure support reaches everyone who needs it.
Benefit calculators can be accessed on the Turn2Us and Policy in Practice websites.
I know how she feels, the first time I tried applying I got so overwhelmed and distressed, I gave up too. The process is deliberately designed to have that effect.
But my health was quickly deteriorating and I didn’t really have a choice, so I looked for support, and was surprised to find that there is lots out there, if severely underfunded, but people want to help, and more importantly, know how to - they know the system works, and all the tricks the DWP play, and how they lie, and how they fail people by default (your colleague, and I, are in the over 70% of rejections that get overturned on appeal. The number isn’t higher only because they achieve their goal of people giving up, not because 30% of claims are actually false), so they not only know how to navigate it, but also how to reassure you and keep you going when things seem to go wrong (but are actually going as intended - to get you to give up), and most importantly believe you, because they know what you’re up against really is that bad.
I can’t lie - it never gets easier or less scary or stressful to face. I have all long term and/or degenerative conditions, and they still only give me one or two years benefit at a time before I need to renew it again, and my health declines every time this happens just from the stress, but at least I know I personally have to do very little about it because I have an advocate who will fill in the forms for me (with my feedback), contact the DWP on my behalf if needed, take me to the assessment, fill in any appeal forms and go with me to the tribunal if necessary (has always been so far), and so on. The terror of losing my livelihood is still there, but at least I don’t have to try and get past that to also be able to focus on jumping through the DWP’s flaming hoops.
Sorry… I feel like this might not be coming across as helpful as I mean it to…
My point is - look up “help claiming benefits [your nearest town]”, find a service that can help, could be with the council, could be independent (charity/legal aid/advocacy service), either way - it will always be free (if it isn’t, find someone else!), and have a chat with them about your situation. There will almost certainly be someone in your area who will be able to support you through this and get your wife what she is entitled to.
Thank you - we are lucky enough at the moment to not really need it. I’m 67 and still working (albeit part time) and she has a few years before retirement, but if either of us had to give up it would really hurt. Considering I have state pension, and ones from 20 years at BT and 17 in the Army, you’d think we’d be OK. We should be. That was how it was supposed to work.
I will follow your advice though and see what gives - we’re currently downsizing at the moment as we will not be able to afford the rent here in a couple of years.
I think dealing with it now, while you still have other sources of income to rely on is probably best, if nothing else, it’d be mentally less horrible to deal with if you aren’t absolutely desperate, than if you are.
Either way - I hope you manage to find the help, and get the benefits! 🤞