Around £24 billion in benefits goes unclaimed every year, according to research by Policy in Practice. With the cost of living continuing to put pressure on household budgets, millions of people across the UK could be missing out on financial support they are entitled to.
The figures come as inflation and energy costs remain a concern for many families heading into the autumn and winter months. Around 24 million people are currently receiving some form of Department for Work and Pensions-administered benefit, including people receiving the state pension.
What help could you be entitled to?
One of the first places to check is whether you are entitled to benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance. A benefits calculator can help households work out what support they may be eligible for.
There is a range of support available depending on a household's circumstances, from benefits and council tax reductions to help with energy, childcare and housing costs.
Crisis and housing support
The government's Crisis and Resilience Fund provides support through local councils for people struggling with essential costs. The scheme includes crisis payments for low-income households facing a financial shock or at risk of entering crisis. Councils have discretion over their eligibility rules, and government guidance says support should not be restricted only to people already receiving benefits.
There is also a housing payment aimed at helping eligible households with costs such as rent arrears, rent in advance, rental deposits or other expenses linked to moving home. This support is restricted to people receiving certain benefits.
Budgeting advances and council tax support
People receiving Universal Credit who face an emergency lack of money may also be able to apply for a budgeting advance loan. The interest-free loans can be borrowed up to £348 for a single person, £464 for a couple or £812 where the claimant or their partner receives Child Benefit. Repayments are automatically deducted from Universal Credit.
Households on certain benefits or meeting particular criteria may qualify for a council tax reduction, potentially cutting their bill by up to 100 per cent. People facing severe financial hardship may also be able to ask their local council for a discretionary reduction.
Help with energy, broadband and water bills
Energy companies also offer support to customers struggling with their bills. British Gas, Scottish Power, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus are among the suppliers offering assistance, so households struggling with energy costs are encouraged to contact their provider to find out what help is available.
There are also targeted schemes available over the winter. The Warm Home Discount provides around six million households with an automatic £150 reduction on their electricity bills, subject to eligibility rules. In England and Wales, qualifying households include some people receiving benefits such as Pension Credit and Universal Credit. The Winter Fuel Payment can provide eligible pensioners with between £100 and £300 towards heating costs, while Cold Weather Payments provide £25 for every qualifying seven-day period of freezing weather between November and March.
Some households could also reduce their regular bills through social tariffs. Every water company operating in the UK has a social tariff, although the level of support varies between providers. Some schemes can reduce bills substantially, while others offer smaller discounts. Eligibility generally depends on income and/or whether someone receives certain benefits. Many broadband providers also offer cheaper social tariffs to customers receiving benefits such as Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Free childcare and charitable grants
Working parents may also be entitled to up to 30 hours of free childcare for children up to the age of four. Parents need to apply online and reconfirm their eligibility every three months. The scheme can also be combined with tax-free childcare, which provides 20p towards childcare costs for every 80p paid in, up to a maximum of £500 a year.
People struggling financially may also qualify for grants from charities, depending on their circumstances. There are grants available for groups including disabled or ill people, carers, bereaved people, unemployed people and students. The Turn2us grants search tool can be used to look for schemes that may be available.
With household budgets likely to face further pressure as autumn approaches, checking entitlement to benefits and other support could make a meaningful difference. The research suggests billions of pounds of available support is not being claimed, so households should check what they may qualify for rather than assuming they are not eligible. The next energy price cap announcement, covering October to December, is expected on 26 August 2026.
