Millions of households across Britain are missing out on critical financial support during the ongoing cost of living crisis, with a staggering £19 billion in benefits going unclaimed in the last year alone, according to exclusive data analysis.
The comprehensive research from Policy in Practice reveals that approximately 7.5 million families failed to claim support they were entitled to, including crucial payments for council tax, Universal Credit, and pension credits.
The staggering scale of unclaimed support
Among the most significant unclaimed benefits were:
- £7.5 billion in unclaimed council tax support
- £5.9 billion in missing Universal Credit payments
- £1.7 billion in unclaimed pension credit
- £1.1 billion in missed housing support
Deven Ghelani, director of Policy in Practice, emphasized the severity of the situation: "The fact that support worth £19 billion is unclaimed a year is a travesty. In a cost of living crisis, we need to make sure that every penny of support reaches people."
Why are benefits going unclaimed?
Experts point to several key factors driving this alarming trend:
- Complex application processes that deter vulnerable applicants
- Lack of awareness about eligibility criteria
- Digital exclusion among elderly and disadvantaged groups
- Stigma surrounding benefit claims
- Administrative barriers within the system itself
The Department for Work and Pensions maintains that it encourages eligible people to claim benefits they're entitled to, but campaigners argue much more needs to be done to simplify the process and raise awareness.
The human impact
Behind these staggering statistics are real families facing impossible choices between heating and eating. The unclaimed billions represent missed opportunities to lift children out of poverty, support elderly residents, and provide stability for working families struggling with rising costs.
As the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze household budgets, experts warn that failing to claim entitled benefits could push vulnerable families into deeper financial distress.
