It's a good time to remind you that BILLIONS in benefits goes unclaimed each year

Martin Lewis urges people who earn £60,000 to come forward for free £5,800

by · Birmingham Live

Martin Lewis has urged people earning under £60,000 to check whether they're owed THOUSANDS from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). 1.4million people are missing out on an average of £5,800 a year of Universal Credit payments, MSE said.

"The inflation figures that the Government normally uses to calculate next April's benefit rises have just been announced - it's dropped to 1.7% this month, lower than figures in recent months (though do note the Govt's not officially confirmed the changes yet)," MSE explained.

"So it's a good time to remind you that BILLIONS in benefits goes unclaimed each year - most by workers or pensioners who have paid into the system for yonks and are in need of help, but think 'benefits aren't for me' or 'I won't qualify'."

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For Universal Credit, MSE especially urged households with a £35,000 annual income to check their eligibility, in addition to parents with high childcare costs and rent receiving a combined total of around £60,000 per year. MSE continued: "Claiming benefits is often a gateway to other discounts, such as broadband social tariffs, so if you have success claiming above, check if you're then eligible. Simply being on a low income could qualify you for a water social tariff, so check that too, even if you're not eligible for benefits."

MSE warned: "UNIVERSAL CREDIT - 1.4 MILLION miss out on an average of up to £5,800 a year. The catch-all monthly benefit to support those of working age (with low or no income) with living and housing costs. Who's likely missing out? Households with lower incomes, up to roughly £35,000/yr, though if you've kids, high childcare costs and rent, it could be £60,000/yr."

Universal Credit is tailored to your circumstances, there's no hard 'cut-off' point for eligibility. A single person living with their parents may only be able to earn up to £18,000 before they stop being eligible, whereas a single parent of two children, renting in an expensive city, may be able to earn up to £50,000 before they are no longer eligible.