More Than £24 Billion in Support Goes Unclaimed Every Year in the UK

Policy in Practice, which researches welfare and benefits data, estimates that over £24 billion in benefits and social support goes unclaimed in the UK each year. The most common reason is not ineligibility. It is that people either do not know the support exists, or assume they will not qualify.

The five most underclaimed benefits and entitlements in the UK are worth knowing about, whether for yourself, your parents, or your grandparents.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit is a government top-up for people who have reached State Pension age and are on a low income. It can top up weekly income to a minimum guaranteed level, and it also acts as a gateway to other support including free NHS dental treatment, a free TV licence for those over 75, help with Council Tax, and a Cold Weather Payment.

Thousands of eligible pensioners are not claiming it. The government has increased its efforts to reach people who qualify, but take-up remains lower than it should be. Eligibility depends on income, savings, and household circumstances. You can check online at gov.uk or by calling the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Council Tax Reduction

Unlike Pension Credit, which is administered nationally, Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support) is run by local councils and must be applied for directly. It is not automatic.
If you are on a low income, you could pay significantly less council tax, or in some cases, nothing at all. This applies whether you own your home or rent. The scheme covers both working-age and older claimants, though the rules vary between councils.

Universal Credit for workers

Universal Credit is widely associated with unemployment, but this is a misconception that causes many people to miss out. Millions of people in low to middle-income employment could still be entitled to a top-up, depending on household income and circumstances. If you earn less than around £35,000 (individual earnings, not household), it is worth using an entitlement calculator to check whether a claim would be possible.

Carer’s Allowance

If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance. The person you care for must receive a qualifying benefit such as the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance. Carer’s Allowance is worth £81.90 per week as of 2025.

Many carers, particularly those who have stepped back from work to care for a family member, are unaware that this applies to them. Claiming Carer’s Allowance also provides National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension record.

Expanded free childcare hours

Eligible working parents in England can now access up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged nine months to five years. The expansion rolled out in phases during 2024 and 2025, and not all parents are aware that the offer now applies to younger children than it previously did. Check eligibility on the Childcare Choices website (childcarechoices.gov.uk) or through your local council.

How to check what you are owed

Two free online calculators allow anyone to check their entitlements in a few minutes. EntitledTo (entitledto.co.uk) and Turn2Us (turn2us.org.uk) both ask a series of questions about income, household, and circumstances and then produce a list of benefits and support you may be eligible to claim. Most people who check are surprised by the result.

These are not obscure loopholes. They are support mechanisms that exist precisely because people find themselves in financial difficulty. The only barrier to claiming them is knowing they exist.

What to do next

Check your entitlements using EntitledTo.
Check your entitlements using Turn2Us.
Check if a family member may be eligible for Pension Credit.