MILLIONS of families could be missing out on thousands of pounds in help as they battle a cost of living crisis.
One expert has revealed the five extra cash payments and discounts that many people forget to claim.
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Anna Stevenson is a benefits expert at the charity Turn2Us and one of our Squeeze Team panel which is here to help you save money.
Whether you’re worried about paying your bills, need to clear debts or don’t know what to do with your pension, email us at [email protected].
Anna said: “Lots of people on low incomes are entitled to benefits that they are not getting.”
Using the Turn2Us calculator it should take you about 10 minutes to find out what you could get, she said.
“If there’s a benefit that you’re missing, don’t be shy about claiming it.
“It’s there for a reason and it’s there to help you.”
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Many older people who don’t have the internet can find it difficult to work out what they’re entitled to and miss out on money they desperately need.
“If you have an elderly parent, aunt or neighbour, it’s a kindness to sit down with them and run their details through the calculator,” she said.
Here are some of the payments and perks that you and your loved ones could be missing…
Payment to top-up your income
If you’re on a low income – whether you’re employed, out of work or retired – there are means-tested benefits you might be able to claim, said Anna.
“You could be entitled to extra payments through Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
“Top-up payments, especially Pension Credit, are really under-claimed.”
Help with water and energy bills
There are lots of schemes to help people struggling with heating costs, such as the warm home discount, cold weather payment, winter fuel allowance and suppliers’ own grants.
But Anna said that water companies also offer a lot of schemes to struggling customers, which people don’t think to claim.
“They can be really helpful, taking your bills down from £30 to £10 a month or even less.
“Speak to your water company to see if they have one.”
Free or cheaper prescriptions
You probably know that people who receive certain benefits can get free prescriptions and dentist appointments and you can check if you’re entitled to them on the government’s website.
“But people don’t always know that the NHS also has a low income scheme which can reduce the cost of prescriptions, glasses, eye tests, dental treatment and travel to appointments, among other things,” said Anna.
You can apply online here.
Cheaper internet and landline
If you’re on Universal Credit and searching for a job, ask your work coach if you qualify for vouchers to help you cover the cost of getting online.
Anna said: “People on benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and others, might also be able to get cheap broadband through the BT Essentials scheme.”
It offers unlimited broadband with an average speed of 67MB for £15 a month, or get a call-only deal for £10 a month.
You’ll need your National Insurance number to show you qualify and there’s also a £9.99 postage fee for your smart hub.
There are no exit fees if your situation changes.
Find out if you qualify with an instant online check here.
Half price bus and train tickets
If you’re unemployed, on benefits and looking for work or you’ve just started a new job, you may be able to claim a discount card for 50% off travel by speaking to work coach about the Job Centre Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card.
“There are lots of other local schemes from bus and train companies so speak to your council or work coach to find out more,” said Anna.
The Turn2Us website lists some of the local schemes here.
And don’t forget there’s more help out there
Here’s how you could get a cash payment of up to £800 to help with food, bills or appliances from your council.
You might be able to get a free boiler worth up to £2,500.
Families could get up to £442 in food vouchers through the Government’s Healthy Start scheme, but thousands could miss out if they haven’t switched to Universal Credit.
The Government is considering a one-off cash payment of £500 to help families struggling with soaring heating bills.
Brits struggling to pay energy bills to get ‘more help’ minister says as Gov mulls £500 payouts to millions of families
