MARTIN Lewis has urged anyone who earns less that £40,000 to do a quick 10-minute check.
The money expert returned for his Money Show on ITV last night for a mortgage special.
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It comes after interest rates spiked yesterday to their highest level in 15 years for an average two-year fix.
This means that people coming to the end of a fix could be facing high bills, and even those who aren’t are still battling soaring costs.
As part of the special, Martin revealed several tips for people to get help if they’re struggling, not just with mortgages but with general costs, including an easy benefits check.
Speaking on the show, he said: “If you’ve got household income up to £40,000, especially if you have kids or high rent, get yourself onto a benefits calculator.
“Spend 10 minutes to see if you’re missing out on any entitlements.
“£19billion of entitlements are not being claimed by people who are due them – so it’s worth the check even if you get nothing.”
A recent report by the think-tank Policy in Practice suggested that the total amount of unclaimed income-related benefits and social tariffs is nearly £19billion a year.
It estimates that £7.5billion is just from unclaimed Universal Credit, with 1.25million eligible households.
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So, if you earn up to £40k, you can use a simple online benefit calculator and pop your details in to see if you could be due Universal Credit or other benefit help.
The handy tool will then tell you if you can get any cash, which is worth an average of £9,600 a year.
There are several to choose from including ones from MoneySavingExpert and the government website.
You’ll need some personal details to hand though, including information on savings, income, pensions and any benefits you are already on.
Also, bear in mind the calculator isn’t 100% accurate, although it will give you a rough idea of what you could get.
Thresholds increased earlier this year, so some people who weren’t eligible last year might be now so it’s definitely worth a go.
During the segment Martin also issued other advice on how to get help.
These include creating a budget that means you can work out exactly where your spending is going.
He also recommends then looking at “pain-free savings” that you can make where you can get the same but for less – these are things like switching to a water meter and looking at other bills too.
Martin said that if that’s not enough your next move should be to cut back on spending all together.
If you think you could be entitled to any benefits, we reveal below who can get them.
Who can get benefits?
You can apply for benefits if you’re out of work, and if you’re employed.
But eligibility criteria for all the different types can be complex.
That’s why using benefits calculators is so handy as they do most of the work for you.
There are dozens of different benefits you can apply for if you live in the UK.
They’re roughly split into four groups: families, work, low-income and health/elderly.
If you need help supporting a family, if you’re a parent say, you can get:
- child benefit
- child tax credits
- maternity/paternity or adoption pay
- marriage allowance
- maternity grants
- maternity allowance
- widowed parent’s allowance
- Scottish child payment
If you’re in work or you’re looking for work you can get working tax credit or jobseeker’s allowance.
If you’re on a low income you can get:
- income support
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- income-based employment and support allowance
- pension credit
- housing benefit
- council tax reduction
- free school meals
- support for mortgage interest
- budgeting loans and advances
- funeral payments
- council support schemes
- cold weather payments
If you are ill, disabled or elderly and need help, you can get:
- attendance allowance
- personal independence payment
- carer’s allowance
- new-style employment and support allowance
- sick pay
- state pension
- bereavement support payment
- winter fuel payments
Beyond using a benefits calculator, there are a number of free services available to you if you want to find out what you could be eligible for.
Organisations like Citizens Advice often have branches in most major towns or cities and can offer you free advice.
Plus, charities like Turn2Us can help you get access to benefits if you think you’re entitled to them.
You can also make a claim on the government website.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
