More than a million households in the UK are missing out on Universal Credit payments of up to £6,216, a charity has warned.
EntitledTo, an independent body which helps people access the benefits they are eligible for, estimates almost 1.2m people in the UK are missing out on £7.46bn in Universal Credit. This is money that would drastically help households struggling to afford food and pay bills as living costs continue to soar.
Universal Credit is an umbrella payment which replaces individual benefits, such as income support and housing benefit. These are now known as legacy benefits.
READ MORE: Universal Credit, PIP, ESA and JSA benefit payment date changes for August
You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be:
- out of work
- working (including self-employed or part time)
- unable to work, for example because of a health condition
To claim you must:
- live in the UK
- be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
- be under State Pension age
- have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
If you live with your partner, you will both need to claim for Universal Credit. You must make a joint claim for your household, even if your partner is not eligible. How much you can get will depend on your partner’s income and savings, as well as your own.
You can check if you're eligible for Universal Credit - and/or any other benefits - by using EntitledTo's free calculator tool.
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