By James Rodger

Copyright birminghammail

An eye-watering seven million households are missing out on £24 billion worth of financial support due to unclaimed benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) and social tariffs. Policy in Practice has blamed stigma and complexity for BILLIONS of pounds going unclaimed, with Universal Credit , Council Tax Support and Carer’s Allowance among the worst. It said the figures highlight the need to “improve visibility and access to support for everyday essentials” and that helping people access the support would help “raise living standards, prevent crises and reduce pressure on public services”. READ MORE NS&I warning for anyone with over £350 invested in Premium Bonds “The scale of unclaimed support in Britain is still staggering,” Deven Ghelani director and founder of Policy in Practice said. “Over £24 billion is left on the table at a time when many are struggling to stay afloat. 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. “The good news is that we now have the tools to fix this. In the past year alone, our work with local authorities, housing providers, and utility companies has helped put millions of pounds into people’s pockets. This shows what’s possible and what’s urgently needed. “Every £1 claimed is a step toward better health, improved education, stronger families and reduced pressure on public services. It’s time for bold, coordinated action to close the £24 billion gap.” It said the scale of the figure is partially due to the fact “many people simply don’t know they’re eligible especially if they are working, have some savings, or their circumstances have recently changed”. “Many lack trust in the system and worry about being judged, singled out or burdened with intrusive checks or sanctions,” Policy in Practice said. The company said in order to tackle the issue, systems must be made more accessible, joined up and easier to navigate. A government spokesperson said: “We’re making sure everyone gets the support they are entitled to by promoting benefits through public campaigns and funding the free Help to Claim service. “We are also developing skills and opening up opportunities so more people can move into good, secure jobs, while ensuring the welfare system is there for those who need it.”