State pension could rise by £400 next year (Image: Getty Images)
As we usher in the New Year, many Britons will be grappling with the financial aftermath of Christmas and a fresh surge in energy bills. Consequently, it’s an opportune moment to ensure you’re not missing out on any unclaimed financial aid.
If you’re working but earning a low income, living with a long-term health condition or disability, raising a family, or recently bereaved, you could qualify for additional financial support. But this isn’t just for those of working age; individuals of age might be overlooking or a potential £3,900 boost through Pension Credit.
If you’ve experienced a financial setback, or your household circumstances have altered, spending 10 minutes using one of the online benefit calculators could offer a much-needed income lift before summer ends. Many people mistakenly believe there’s a stigma attached to claiming benefits, but it’s worth bearing in mind that an estimated £19 billion in state support from the Department for Work and Pensions () went unclaimed in 2024.
Most benefits need to be claimed from the and while the end-to-end application journey time can take up to 16 weeks for disability payments, others have a much quicker turnaround. An online benefits calculator isn’t a magic solution to financial woes, but it can provide a fairly accurate estimate of potential claims – the responsibility to apply, however, lies with you.
You should check if:
- you have a child who is disabled or has a health condition
- you are disabled or have a health condition
- you’re caring for someone
- you have lost a loved one
- you are temporarily unable to work, including because of ill health
- you are of working age on a low income
- You are over age on a low income
- you have been made redundant
- you are looking for work
- you are raising a family
If you have a child who is disabled or has a health condition, are disabled or have a health condition yourself, are caring for someone, have lost a loved one, are temporarily unable to work due to ill health, are of working age on a low income, are over age on a low income, have been made redundant, are looking for work, or are raising a family, you may be eligible for benefits. Benefits calculators can quickly determine if you’re missing out on any benefits.
They are free, independent, and confidential to use – so there’s no downside. In just a few minutes, you could discover how much extra support you might be eligible for by simply entering details about yourself, your residential status, your employment status, and any savings you have.
You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could be owed, how you can claim for these benefits, and how they could be affected if you start working. A free and easy-to-use benefits calculator can be found .