Nine benefits you could be missing out from Universal Credit to council tax – and you could get THOUSANDS more a year

MILLIONS of Brits are missing out on free cash because they are not claiming benefits they are entitled to.

There are nine benefits ranked as the most unclaimed, with Universal Credit, pension credit and council tax support among them.

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Billions of pounds of benefits is going unclaimed each year, and could be worth thousands of pounds to you.

For instance the average amount of pension credit going unclaimed each year is estimated to be £1,878.91.

And jobseekers allowance (JSA) worth a whopping £3,936 per person, on average, is up for grabs according to calculations by charity Turn2Us.

It comes after 2million Brits on legacy benefits learned they will not get the same extra cash offered to Universal Credit during Covid worth £20 a week.

A court on Friday ruled that the DWP was justified in treating claimants differently, meaning those on benefits such as personal independence payments (PIP) or employment support allowance (ESA) will not get backpay.

But anyone on benefits already could be among those missing out.

The rising cost of living including food an energy bills also makes it more important than ever to check that you’re getting everything that you’re entitled to.

A benefits calculator is a really useful tool to help you check.

Before using the tools, make sure you have key financial information to hand, such as bank and savings statements, and information on pensions and existing benefits.

Here’s the money you could be missing out on, and how to claim it.

Council tax support – £938.63

Nearly 3million households are missing out on £2.6billion a year, on average, that’s over £900 a year each.

You can apply for a council tax reduction if you’re on a low income or claim other benefits.

Depending on your circumstances, you could get your bill reduced by up to 100%, meaning you pay no council tax at all.

Exactly what discount you get depends on factors including where you live, your circumstances (like if you have kids) and your income.

For instance, if you’re the only adult in your household, you automatically get 25% off your bill, but many people get far more.

To apply, enter your postcode into the government website, and then head to your local council to see what’s available.

You’ll need to apply directly to them the get the discount.

Millions of Brits will also soon get a £150 council tax rebate automatically – see if you’re eligible.

Universal Credit – £2,900

Turn2US estimates that around 1million people are missing out on Universal Credit worth £2.9billion in total – or £2,900 each.

How much you can get varies substantially depending on your living circumstances.

There’s a standard allowance, and then you get extra elements if you have children, have a disability or health condition, or need help paying rent.

The standard allowance is currently £257.33 for those single and aged 25 and over, and £324.84 for those single and over this age.

You’ll get more if you’re a couple and both claiming.

Working out exactly what you’re entitled to is complex because there are so many variations, but this EntitledTo calculator can give you a good idea.

Around half a million more working Brits are now eligible for Universal Credit after a change to rules and are being urged to check if they can claim.

Read our guide to learn more about what Universal Credit is, how much it’s worth and how to check you’re eligible in our guide.

The easiest way to apply for Universal Credit is online on the government’s website.

If you get legacy benefits that are being replaced by Universal Credit, you could end up worse off by switching over, so make sure you’ll be better off before you apply.

Pension credit – £1,878,91

Nearly 1million retirees are missing out on £1.8billion between them – that’s nearly £2,000 each every year.

Typically the benefit for pensioners on low income is worth around £3,000 a year on average, and you can get extra help if you’re a carer, disabled, or responsible for a child.

Read our guide to understand how much you can get depending on your circumstances.

Pension credit is also really important because it gives people over state pension age access to a whole raft of other benefits on top.

Even if you get only pennies from the benefit itself it’s still worth claiming to get these extras, which include:

• Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
• Support if you own the property you live in
• Council Tax Reductions
• A free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
• Help with NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses and free transport costs for hospital appointments
• Help with your heating costs including cold weather payments.

You can find out more about pension credit and apply online as long as you’ve claimed state pension and there are no children in the application.

Otherwise, you’ll have to use the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 or apply by post by printing out and filling in the Pension Credit claim form.

Housing benefit – £4,429.53

• 745,000 people missing out
• £3.3bn unclaimed
• Average amount per person: £4,429.53

Housing Benefit worth £3.3billion is going unclaimed by an estimated 745,000, working out as £4,429.53 each on average.

Housing benefit helps you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming other benefits.

It’s being replaced by Universal Credit, which means you can only make a new claim if:

• you have reached State Pension age (or a partner you live with has)
• you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary housing

Exactly how much you can get depends on a range of factors depending on whether you’re renting privately or from the council and whether you have spare rooms (which means a reduction).

The government also takes your circumstances into account, for example, the age of people in the house or if someone has a disability.

If you rent privately, your eligible rent amount is either your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate or your actual rent, whichever is lower. 

You can apply either through your local council or as part of a Pension Credit claim, if you’re eligible for this.

Child benefit – £1,540.76

An estimated 503,000 are missing out on £775m in unclaimed child benefit, or £1,540.76 on average.

Child benefit helps families with the cost of raising children, although it can only be claimed by one parent.

You get child benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

Currently, the rate for your eldest or only child is £21.15 per week, which is £84.60 a month or just over £1,000 a year.

While for each other child you have, the rate is £14 a week – that’s roughly £56 per month and just over £700 a year.

It’s paid every four weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.

If either you or your partner earns more than £50,000 individually, your entitlement to child benefit drops and you will have to pay some back via a tax return.

If either person earns over £60,000 you’re not eligible for any of the benefit, but it can still be worth claiming an repaying so you get national insurance credits that build up your state pension.

You can also register but tick the box which says you don’t want to receive the benefit to avoid having to deal with tax forms.

To apply for the first time, fill in Child Benefit claim form CH2 and send it to the Child Benefit Office. The address is on the form.

Child tax credits – £3,508.77

There’s £3,508.77 of child tax credits going unclaimed on average each year, per person.

You can only make a claim for Child Tax Credit if you already get Working Tax Credit, otherwise, you need to apply for Universal Credit.

The rules have changed, so how much exactly you can get depends on when your children were born and how many you have.

If you have two children born after April 6, 2017, you’d get a child element for each child worth up to £2,845.

If you qualified for the maximum, you’d get £5,690 a year.

If one child was born before then you could also get a basic amount called the family element worth up to £545 a year.

If all your children were born before April 6, 2017, you can claim for all of them, but after that, there is a two-child limit.

To claim Child Tax Credit, update your existing tax credit claim by reporting a change in your circumstances online or by phone.

Income Support / Employee Support Allowance – £3,383.28

nearly 300,000 people each year are missing out on £971m between them – or over £3,000 each.

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

You need to be under the state pension age, have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work, and both:

• worked as an employee or have been self-employed
• paid enough National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2-3 years

You won’t get the benefit if you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or Statutory Sick Pay.

If you get Universal Credit, you could get ESA at the same time, but your Universal Credit payment is reduced by the amount you get for ‘new style’ ESA.

Once your claim has been assessed, you’ll be put into one of two groups, which defines how much you’re paid.

You’ll get up to £74.70 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group or up to £114.10 a week if you’re in the support group.

The easiest way to claim is online on the government website.

Working tax credit – £2,729.86

• 211,000 people missing out
• £576mn unclaimed
• Average amount per person:

Working tax credit adding up to £576million is going unclaimed each year by 211,000 people – that’s £2,729.86 a year on average.

You can only make a claim for Working Tax Credit if you already get Child Tax Credit, otherwise, you need to apply for Universal Credit instead.

To be eligible for the benefit, you need to work at least 16 hours a week, and over 30 hours a week if you’re aged 25-59 and don’t have children.

Couples need to work at least 24 hours between you, with one partner working at least 16 hours unless you are exempt due to disability or age.

You’ll get a basic amount worth up to £2,005 a year and additional elements on top.

For instance, a single parent could get up to £2,060 a year extra, meaning a total benefit of up to £4,065.

If you have a disability, the additional element pays up to £3,240 a year.

To claim Working Tax Credit, you need to update your existing tax credit claim by reporting a change in your circumstances online or by phone.

Jobseekers’ Allowance – £3,936.51

An estimated 126,000 people are missing out on a collective £496million, which works out as £3,936.51 each.

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is an unemployment benefit you can claim while looking for work.

To be eligible for ‘new style’ Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) you’ll need to have both worked as an employee and paid Class 1 National Insurance contributions, usually in the last 2-3 years.

You’ll also need to be between the age of 18 and state pension age, although there are special rules for 16- and 17-year-olds.

You’ll also need to be available for work, including not having an illness or disability which stops you from working.

You can get ‘new style’ JSA for up to 182 days. After this, you can talk to your work coach about your options.

Under 24s get up to £59.20 a week, while over 25s get up to £74.70 a week.

Benefits are set to rise in April by 3.1% – check if your payments will go up.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk