With millions of people struggling with the rising cost of living, you could be entitled to financial help and support.
But with an estimated £13 billion worth of benefits going unclaimed in the UK, millions of people are missing out on cash that could protect them from further financial hardship and, more importantly, debt.
In this guide, we’ll outline what benefits and grants you could be entitled to so you can become aware of the wide range of financial help and support available to you and take steps to tackle the ongoing cost of living crisis ahead of further price rises.
What are benefits?
In simple terms, benefits (also known as welfare) are monthly payments paid by the government to people that are on low incomes, unemployed, or meet certain needs.
They are designed to provide an additional income source and help cover the cost of rent, bills, and living costs if you are raising children, retired, caring for someone, have a long-long illness or disability, or earning below a certain threshold.
Benefits in the UK can be means-tested (assessed against your income) or non means-tested (not impacted by your income or savings) with the amount you are entitled to based on your individual situation. This figure can also be increased, decreased, or your benefits may be stopped altogether if your circumstances change during this time.
How can I check my benefits entitlement?
It can be difficult to know if you’re entitled to benefits and where to check your benefits entitlement but, financial jargon aside, it’s not as complicated as it seems (we promise).
The UK government has launched an online benefits calculator here to help you find out what benefits you’re entitled to, how to claim, and how your benefits will be impacted if your circumstances were to change down the line.
It is also free to use and completely anonymous so, even if you are just assessing your options, you can relax safe in the knowledge that there is no pressure to make a decision or start the process of claiming benefits.
How to claim
If you are eligible for benefits, you might be wondering how to claim and what additional resources you might need to support your claim. But don’t worry, the process is relatively simple and straightforward.
The first step to claiming benefits involves filling in a form in-person, online, or, in certain circumstances, over the phone. However, because different benefits have different application processes, you must decide which benefit you are making a claim for before you start an application.
In most cases, you will also be asked to provide documentation to support your claim, such as evidence of your identity, income, or savings.
The length of time it takes to process your claim can differ from case to case but, on average, you will receive your first payment five weeks after you submit your claim. It might be possible to get an advance on your first payment if your financial situation is urgent but this will be assessed on an individual basis and must be repaid at a later date.
Is there any other help available?
In the UK, there is a wide range of financial help and support available for people that either don’t qualify for benefits or whose benefits don’t cover their essential costs.
For a helping hand with housing costs, for example, you might be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment, Council Tax Reduction, or Disabled Facilities Grant.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant in England and Wales or the Pregnancy and Baby Payment in Scotland, on the other hand, can help cover the costs associated with raising a child.
Rishi Sunak’s £15 billion cost of living package will also deliver some much-needed financial help and support to the UK’s most vulnerable households this year. If you still don’t know what what of living payments you are entitled to, find out here.
