How Can I Check Whether I’m Missing Out on Benefits?

You could be entitled to financial support without realising it.

Benefits are not only for people who are unemployed. Your entitlement can be affected by your income, health, disability, caring responsibilities, age, housing costs and who lives in your household.

If something in your life has changed, it can be worth checking again even if you have checked before.

A benefits check can help you find out what support might be available.

Why might I be missing out?

There are many reasons people do not claim benefits they may be entitled to.

You might think:

“I work, so I won’t qualify.”

“I have some savings.”

“I own my home.”

“My health problem isn’t serious enough.”

“My partner earns money.”

“I’ve never claimed anything before.”

But different benefits have different rules.

Rather than trying to decide for yourself whether you are “the sort of person” who qualifies, it is usually better to check your actual circumstances.

Use a benefits calculator

One of the easiest starting points is a free online benefits calculator.

The UK Government lists independent calculators that can estimate:

which benefits you may be entitled to
how much you might receive
how starting work or increasing your hours could affect benefits
how a change in circumstances could affect your entitlement

They can provide a useful first indication of whether there is something worth investigating further.

A calculator provides an estimate rather than a final benefits decision.

What information will I need?

The more accurate the information you enter, the more useful the estimate is likely to be.

Try to have information about:

your earnings
your partner’s earnings, if relevant
other household income
savings and investments
pensions
benefits you already receive
rent or mortgage costs
childcare costs
your Council Tax

You may find it helpful to gather recent payslips, bank statements, benefit letters and household bills before starting.

Do not worry if your paperwork is not perfectly organised.

The important thing is to begin.

Check after a change in your life

Benefit entitlement can change when your circumstances change.

It can be particularly useful to complete another check if:

you lose your job
your working hours reduce
your wages fall
you become ill
you develop a disability or long-term health condition
you start caring for somebody
you have a child
you separate from or move in with a partner
somebody moves into or out of your household
your housing circumstances change
you approach or reach State Pension age

Do not assume that a benefits check you completed several years ago still reflects your circumstances today.

Don’t only look at the benefit you already know about

Sometimes people search for one particular benefit and stop there.

For example, you may be looking into disability support but not realise that your circumstances could also affect help with household income or Council Tax.

Or you may be checking Universal Credit without considering whether another type of support is relevant.

A wider entitlement check can help identify things you may not have thought to search for individually.

What if the calculator says I might qualify?

The next step is to check the rules for the particular benefit and find out how to apply.

An estimate from a calculator does not mean a benefit will automatically be awarded.

Different benefits have their own:

eligibility rules
application processes
evidence requirements
assessment processes

Make sure you understand which benefit the estimate relates to and use current information when deciding what to do next.

What if the calculator says I won’t qualify?

Do not automatically assume there is no other help available.

Online calculators are useful, but they do not work accurately for every situation.

Some circumstances are more complicated and may require individual benefits advice.

There may also be other financial assistance outside the benefits included in a particular calculator.

If the result does not seem to reflect your circumstances, consider speaking to a benefits adviser.

Can somebody help me complete a benefits check?

Yes.

If you find online calculators difficult, you do not have to work everything out alone.

You may be able to get help from a benefits adviser or an organisation providing welfare-rights or benefits support.

MH360 Entitled can also help people explore benefits and financial support they may be missing.

This can be particularly useful if you are unsure what information you need or which benefits might apply to your circumstances.

What if I already receive benefits?

It can still be worth checking.

Your circumstances may have changed since your original claim.

For example, you may now:

have different earnings
pay different housing costs
have caring responsibilities
have a new or changed health condition
live with different people
have reached a different stage of life

Some changes can affect the amount of benefit you receive or whether additional support may be relevant.

If you already claim benefits, remember that changes in circumstances may also need to be reported to the relevant organisation.

Don’t confuse checking with claiming

Completing a benefits check does not mean you have to make a claim.

It gives you information.

You can then look at:

What might I qualify for?

How much might it be worth?

What are the eligibility rules?

What would I need to do to apply?

Do I need help understanding my position?

That can make the benefits system feel much more manageable.

Make checking part of dealing with money problems

If you are struggling to afford bills, cutting spending is only one side of the equation.

It is also worth asking:

“Am I receiving all the income and financial support I may be entitled to?”

A benefits check may take a relatively small amount of time but could identify support you did not know was available.

7.9: What Benefits Might I Be Entitled To?

7.11: What Is Universal Credit?

7.12: Can I Get Universal Credit if I’m Working?

7.13: What Help Is Available if I’m Too Ill to Work?

7.14: What Financial Support Is Available if I Have a Disability or Long-Term Health Condition?

7.15: What Benefits and Financial Help Are Available for Carers?

7.27: What Is Attendance Allowance?

7.30: What Financial Help Might Be Available in Later Life?

7.32: What Help Can I Get With Council Tax?

Important information

This guide provides general information and is not intended to provide benefits, financial, legal or other professional advice. Benefits, eligibility rules and financial-support schemes can change, and individual circumstances can be different. Check current information from official sources or seek advice from an appropriately qualified benefits adviser before making important decisions.