Could you be missing out on unclaimed benefits?

The welfare system is there to support you when times are tough, but nevertheless, many people still don’t realise what help they can get.

That’s why one local authority is actively trying to make sure people know what support they’re entitled to receive.

Peterborough City Council launched an online tool in January to help residents check what benefits they might be able to claim and 68 households showed interest.

Of these, 31% hadn’t claimed any benefits before.

And in total, they were found to be eligible for £84,800 in benefits, including:

• universal credit
• pension credit
• carer’s allowance
• warm home discount

Wide range of people eligible for help

We should stress that the households who came forward in Peterborough were from all walks of life, with different ages, job statuses, housing situations and numbers of children.

That’s an important reminder that there’s no one “type” of person who not only applies for benefits, but also qualifies for support.

So even if you think you don’t qualify, that might not actually be the case, and you’ve nothing to lose by finding out what benefits you could be eligible for.

It’s easy to see what benefits you can claim 

If you’re not sure what financial support you might be entitled to, we’re here to make it simple for you.

Try our benefits calculator or get in touch to see if you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to.

Households aren’t reporting changes in circumstances

Another reason why so much money is going unclaimed is that lots of people aren’t making it known when their situation changes.

Your personal circumstances aren't set in stone - a long-term illness could get worse perhaps, or you may lose your job.

So you should let the Department for Work and Pensions know about anything that could affect your benefit entitlement, such as changes to your:

• health condition
• income
• working hours
• living situation
• relationship status
• caring responsibilities

You can report changes in your circumstances through the DWP website.