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£10 billion of benefits unclaimed

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Over £10 billion of benefits were unclaimed in 2016/17, shows the latest Government statistics.

The figures show billions of pounds of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support (IS), and Pension Credit continue to be left unclaimed.

Housing Benefit

  • £4.2 billion unclaimed

  • 1.3 million families missing out

  • Average household missing out on £3,000 per year.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support (IS)

  • £2.4 billion unclaimed

  • 0.5 million families missing out

  • Average household missing out on £4,500 per year.

Pension Credit

  • £3.5 billion unclaimed

  • 1.3 million families missing out

  • Average household missing out on £2,500 per year.

Pritie Billimoria, Head of Communications at Turn2us, said:

“At a time when a rising number of people are living poverty, it is incredibly worrying to see over £10 billion of benefits are left unclaimed.

“Welfare benefits are a safety net and too many people are slipping through. It is entirely unnecessary that young families are facing eviction, working parents are skipping meals so their children can eat and people are going without the very basics such as heating.

“People all too often presume they’re getting all the financial support available or that they’re not entitled to anything and many also fear that their claim will be rejected.

“It can be difficult to know where to turn for support and daunting to ask for help. But anyone on a low income needs to regularly check that they’re getting all the help available to them.”

Find out what you are entitled to by using the Turn2us Benefits Calculator