£4.8 billion of Housing Benefit unclaimed

Up to £4.8 billion of available Housing Benefit goes unclaimed, according to latest statistics from the Department-for-Work-and-Pensions-(PDF-file-size:-273kb).

Around 1.6 million families are missing out on an average of £3,000 per year each.

In a period of high housing costs, low wages and rising inflation, people should be accessing all the financial help available.

Labour MP, Karen Buck, told Turn2us: "Often people feel they're simply not entitled to tax credit, Pension Credit or other sources of assistance.

“I really want people to claim what is rightfully theirs. It's a major way of helping us to tackle poverty."

Only 6 out of 10 of those entitled to Pension Credit are claiming the benefit. This leaves 1.4 million families missing out on £3.3 billion.

Additionally, £2.7 billion of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and £1.6 billion of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) goes unclaimed.

With 14 million living in poverty in the UK, including 7.4 million in working families, 4 million children, and 2 million pensioners, claiming what you pay for – through tax and national insurance –  can really help you if you are in financial hardship.

To find out what you are entitled to, use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator