Martin Lewis warns households earning under £30,000 to check benefits NOW to claim missing cash

HOUSEHOLDS with incomes below £30,000 a year are being urged to check if they are eligible for state support.

MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis has warned that millions of people are missing out on benefits that could give an all-important boost to their incomes amid the cost of living crisis.

You may be able to get help with heating costs, council tax or even mortgage paymentsCredit: Getty

Rising inflation and energy bills are already hitting households.

There are more costs to come next month when council tax is set to rise and national insurance will be increased to fund a social care levy.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak tried to address some of these rising costs in his Spring Statement yesterday by cutting fuel duty and raising the amount workers can earn before paying national insurance.

There is also extra support low-income households can access.

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Mr Lewis has warned that those with a total family income of below £30,000 could be missing out on benefits.

He said on Twitter that it takes just 10 minutes to check if you are eligible for state support.

Mr Lewis said: “I’m not saying all will be due, just it’s worth the time to check.”

Earlier this month, a mum of three who was struggling to afford school dinner money shared how she ended up getting Universal Credit worth thousands of pounds a year.

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She said she took the advice after watching the Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV.

Speaking on the show, Mr Lewis said: “If you have an income of less than £30,000 and you are struggling it’s worth spending 10 minutes on a benefits calculator to see what you are entitled to.”

How to check your benefit entitlement

The benefits you can get and the exact amount you’re entitled to will depend on your circumstances.

You may be able to get help with heating costs, council tax or even mortgage payments.

There are various free online calculators that will tell you what benefits you could be entitled to based on your income and family situation.

You may need to provide documents such as bank and savings statements and information on pensions and existing benefits.

Entitledto’s free calculator works out whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.

MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data that let you save your results without logging in.

Use Policy in Practice’s calculator to not only find out which benefits you could receive, but also to find out how much cash you’ll have leftover each month after paying for housing costs.

Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what means-tested benefits you might be entitled to, as well as whether you qualify for carers allowance.