By Christian Abbott
Copyright birminghammail
More than 1.6 million households are missing out on £6,487 a year in Universal Credit . More than 1.6million people are missing out on the benefit, with a total of £11.1billion from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice. Around £19billion worth of benefits were unclaimed in 2023 but this rose to £23billion in 2024. As a result, the average household could be £3,203 a year better off if they claimed all of the benefits they are entitled to. But around 2,571,000 people are missing out on Council Tax Support, which could boost their budgets by £1,286 each. And claimants are also missing out on £1.4billion in Child Benefit, with 742,000 households eligible for an average of £1,998 annually. READ MORE NS&I warning for anyone with over £350 invested in Premium Bonds Deven Ghelani, director and founder of Policy in Practice, said: “The scale of unclaimed support in Britain is still staggering. But this isn’t a failure of the public. It’s a failure of a social security system that is still too complex, too fragmented and too passive.” Money Saving Expert, the site founded by BBC and ITV star Martin Lewis, said: “When it comes to claiming benefits, our general rule is: it’s worth checking whether you qualify if you have a household income under £40,000 a year (particularly if you rent and have children).” The 52-year-old’s site added: “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.” The main benefit available for those out of work – either temporarily or due to a long-term health condition – is Universal Credit. If you’re unemployed, off work due to sickness, or have a low income and you have less than £16,000 in savings, you could be entitled to UC. You’ll also get extra amounts depending on your circumstances for example, if you have children, a sickness or disability, or pay rent.
