Did you find this article useful?
One of the reasons is that many people don't realise they qualify for them.
Benefits and other government support are not just for those who are out of work. Millions of households on low incomes are also losing out.
The most recent estimate by benefits experts at was that about 拢15 billion was not being claimed.
Government support that's going unclaimed includes:
If you鈥檙e responsible for bringing up a child who鈥檚 under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training, you鈥檒l get child benefit. This is an allowance that鈥檚 paid to you for each child (usually every 4 weeks).
There鈥檚 no limit to how many children you can claim child benefit for, and only 1 person can get this benefit for a child.
If you鈥檙e over state pension age and on a low income, pension credit can give you extra money to help with living costs.
You鈥檒l need to meet the eligibility criteria to be able to claim, and the amount you鈥檒l receive will based on:
If you鈥檙e eligible, council tax support (also known as council tax reduction) can give you a discount on your bill. For example, you may be able to claim a council tax discount if you live alone.
Each council has its own scheme for council tax support, so the amount you could get can vary depending on where you live. There鈥檚 a .
Universal credit is a payment made by the government to help with living costs. It鈥檚 usually paid monthly, but in Scotland you can choose to have it paid twice a month.
It was brought in to replace benefits, including housing benefit and working tax credits.
If you think you might be missing out on some of these benefits, you can check using this free calculator:
The calculator can help you feel more confident about your finances.
It鈥檚 free to use and should only take 10 minutes to complete. You just enter details such as your income, dependent children and housing costs.
The details you give are anonymous and doesn't collect any personally identifiable information, unless you choose to submit it.
The calculator then gives an estimate of any benefits you might qualify for and how to apply for them.
This article was last updated on 17/04/2025, 08:39
We鈥檝e made every effort to make sure it鈥檚 accurate and up to date, but please make your own checks before doing anything.
Did you find this article useful?
