Millions of households could be leaving serious money on the table because they're not claiming the support they're entitled to. New analysis from Policy in Practice suggests more than £22-24 billion in benefits and social tariffs go unclaimed each year across the UK.
A large slice of that relates to Universal Credit (UC). Anti-poverty charity Turn2us estimates that over £9.6 billion in UC wasn't claimed over the past year as families grappled with rising costs.
The backdrop is a system that's complicated and, for many, hard to navigate. Policy in Practice's director Devan Ghelani says "over £24 billion is left on the table at a time when many are struggling to stay afloat," calling for a simpler, more proactive approach to support.
Meanwhile, official DWP statistics show that 6.4 million households were on UC in January 2024, rising to 7.5 million in January 2025, over 50% of which were families with children, underlining how central the benefit has become.
If you're unsure if you qualify, checking takes minutes and doesn't commit you to a claim. The government signposts independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK, while charities run their own tools and one-to-one help.
With living costs still biting, even a modest monthly award can be the difference between staying on top of bills or falling behind. A five-minute check is a low-effort way to find out what you're due.
