£15bn in benefits went unclaimed last year, charity warns

People across the UK missed out on more than £15bn of unclaimed benefits last year, according to a leading charity.

Research by Turn2Us has found that almost half of people (45%) have never checked their entitlement, with institutional stigma, cultural shame and negative media representation of benefit claimants cited as some of the most common barriers.

The charity claims proportionately, pensioners are the least likely to check what benefits they can claim – 63% of whom have never checked.

They are also the least likely to claim the benefits they have a right to, with one in three missing out on Pension Credit.

Turn2us has responded to this issue with the release of a new Benefits Calculator tool that has been designed in partnership with people who have lived expertise.

The charity is urging people to check their entitlement and start the application process as soon as possible.

‘There is an endemic issue of unclaimed benefits in the UK. The confusing, sometimes hostile, and often stigmatising world of social security has led to millions of people not claiming their entitlements. Our new tool sets out to simplify, de-mystify and compassionately support people to access the money they are due,’ said the charity’s director of programmes and partnerships, Sonya Ruperal.

‘Everyone who goes on to claim the benefits our calculator tells them they are entitled to receives an average of £5,320 a year. It is so important for people to check. We urge everyone to do a benefit calculation every six months as part of a regular financial health check.’