One consequence of running a blog that is widely noticed by the financial services industry is that I am inundated with pressure releases most days, the vast majority of which end up in my email bin without much thought being given to the process.
But there always have to be exceptions. This press announcement turned up in my inbox yesterday, and I felt the service being offered might be of interest to people here and could even be a direct benefit. So, I thought this one was worth sharing, not least because I think the government's lack of effort in ensuring people receive all the benefits to which they are entitled is a scandal.
A stress, I take no responsibility for the content, but if you're interested, it might be worth exploring. I have, obviously, checked that the site is genuine.
NATIONWIDE has launched a free calculator to help people discover unclaimed benefits with a tool experts have hailed as “great for people who are unaware of what they might be entitled to” – and it could get you £560 extra per month.
The bank claims it has helped discover £75 million a year in unclaimed benefits through a free eligibility calculator it launched just seven months ago.
The ‘Better Off' calculator, the first to be offered over the telephone as well as online, helps people understand what benefits they may be entitled to.
The calculator – available to anyone, not just Nationwide customers – was launched in partnership with social policy data experts Policy in Practice, at a time when an estimated £24 billion in benefits goes unclaimed each year.
Since its launch last June, over 18,000 people have submitted a calculation, with over 11,000 households discovering they could be entitled to an average of £560 extra per month – totalling £75.3 million annually in potential support.
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Under claiming is a well known issue among students and professors of social security systems.
Did you know that a person of working age living with a partner who gets the new state pension is automatically barred from claiming Universal Credit? Even if that single person’s state pension is the only income they have as a couple, they have no savings and the working age person is actively seeking work? The person receiving pension is not eligible to receive any pension increase either as they could if they were supporting a partner of retirement age. The couple may be eligible for Housing and Council Tax Benefits, that is all.
I thought I would mention this as you said in a previous post how inadequate the state pension was. But in some cases the government considers it enough for two to live on.
I was not aware of that
Yes, it is scandalous. I had read about it, but saw it happen to a couple of neighbours. He (a builder) had been told he must wait until age 65 for a knee operation, and was unable to work, and in a lot of pain. His wife retired from nursing and claimed her pension. He lost his benefits. She had to go back to work.
I had recently read with distaste of the salary the chief executive of Nationwide receives. It is good to hear the organisation has done some good. Very good that the service can be accessed by telephone, 10/10, as for some people, online doesn’t work or is inaccessible.
Well done the Nationwide!
Can I add that if you are on Universal Credit quite a lot of places eg Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Colchester Zoo etc offer reduced rate tickets to Universal Credit claimants
You usually need to pre book and provide evidence of the award
They may also be available to some other benefits as well such as Pension Credit
Basically either look on the attraction website eg
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/visit/tickets-and-prices/one-pound-tickets/
or do a general internet search
Also if you get a disability benefit – PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance a lot of places offer free or reduced rate Carer Tickets they are not always advertised and do not usually need pre booking. I did ask the Purser on PS Waverley and was told ‘We dont do Carer Tickets but I can put you through as a pensioner’ needless to say my teenage son who describes himself as ‘a walking discount’ was much amused
Some places like Theme Parks do also offer things like Priority Passes so you dont have to queue
I do like that there is a telephone option for the benefits calculator as you can get far more information on the phone or in person, in particular about potential entitlement to disability benefits – I can also add that even when disability benefits are awarded claimants are not advised about things like Carers Allowance, Carers Element in Universal Credit, the Local Offer for families with disabled children etc.
Finally, Pensioners.
In the good old days when the oldest member if a couple reached State Pension Age they became entitled to ‘Pensioner Benefits’ which are more generous than ‘Working Age’ A few years ago the rules were changed so you didnt get Pension Age benefits until both members of a couple are pension age. Secondly unlike ‘Legacy’ benefits where a taper was applied in Universal Credit unearned income reduces entitlement pound for pound so claimants dont get any benefit from State or Occupational pensions.
I understand that the average age gap in a relationship less than two years in the UK but clearly some couples lose a lot as a quick search suggests that there are about 8% of heterosexual couples with an age gap of 10 years or more.
Thanks
Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/what-benefits-can-i-get/ has extensive information and links to 3 different, confidential calculators including the Policy in Practice one which has actually been around for about 8 years or so in its various iterations.
Different calculators suit different circumstances, and people should be aware that they are a guide only – good, but a guide nonetheless.
Anyone who thinks they may be eligible should contact their local Citizens Advice, or equivalent, who can do an accurate calculation and support them through the process – and to appeal as well – if turned down unfairly. Note when reading the CAB site make sure you select the right country through the link in the page as benefits & eligibility are slightly different in the 4 countries of the UK.
Thank you.