The seven ‘hidden’ advantages that thousands and thousands are lacking out on

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Hundreds of thousands of low-income and common credit score households within the UK are lacking out on doubtlessly 1000's of kilos in ‘hidden’ advantages and assist to assist ease the sky-high value of dwelling.

To spice up the spending energy of these most in want, many organisations now supply assist and reductions outdoors of advantages administered by the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP). A number of of those don't even require an energetic profit award to be eligible.

Native councils, power corporations, water suppliers, the NHS and extra all have technique of assist on supply to assist folks make sure the necessities are supplied for.

Analysis by Coverage in Follow estimates that greater than 7.5 million folks will miss out on £24bn value of advantages and assist in 2025-2026. Causes for this stage of underclaiming embody lack of knowledge, complexity, and stigma.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/21/41/housing-stock-london-terraced.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/21/41/housing-stock-london-terraced.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/04/30/21/41/housing-stock-london-terraced.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Research suggests that more than 7.5 million people will miss out on benefits and support in 2025-2026" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Analysis means that greater than 7.5 million folks will miss out on advantages and assist in 2025-2026 (Getty Pictures) Anna Stevenson, advantages knowledgeable at Turn2us, mentioned: “Many individuals don’t realise that claiming common credit score or pension credit score can open the door to additional assist.

“These types of assist exist as a result of the principle price of advantages typically doesn’t absolutely cowl important dwelling prices. They're designed to assist folks meet particular wants, however consciousness is low and many individuals miss out just because the system is complicated and arduous to navigate.

“Utilizing a advantages calculator may help folks examine what assist they’re entitled to and ensure nothing is missed. The Turn2us Advantages Calculator helps folks perceive each their fundamental profit entitlements and the additional assist they might be eligible for.”

Listed below are seven of the principle types of additional assist out there.

Council tax reductions

Those that meet sure standards or are on sure advantages might be able to apply for a reduction on their council tax of as much as 100 per cent (that is typically referred to as council tax assist).

Every native council runs its personal scheme, so eligibility can differ. Those that can reveal they're dealing with extreme hardship and may’t afford to pay their council tax should get a discretionary discount from their authority.

Get a free fractional share value as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and circumstances apply.

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Get a free fractional share value as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and circumstances apply.

Go to web site ADVERTISEMENT

Round 2.5 million households will miss out on a median of £1,286 in 2025-2026, Coverage in Follow estimates.

Extra data might be discovered on the federal government’s web site.

Free faculty meals

Greater than 2 million kids within the UK presently obtain free faculty meals, with this determine set to rise by half one million in September when eligibility is expanded to kids of all mother and father receiving common credit score.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/12/29/06/c8b2b9e6a9a7b25a1e39fdf3d1f08c9cY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY0NzY0MzM2-2.80518351.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/12/29/06/c8b2b9e6a9a7b25a1e39fdf3d1f08c9cY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY0NzY0MzM2-2.80518351.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/12/29/06/c8b2b9e6a9a7b25a1e39fdf3d1f08c9cY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY0NzY0MzM2-2.80518351.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to a school in Essex following the government’s announcement that over half a million more children will get free school meals" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Sir Keir Starmer throughout a go to to a faculty in Essex following the federal government’s announcement that over half one million extra kids will get free faculty meals (PA Wire) Below present guidelines, solely kids dwelling in households with an earnings of lower than £7,400 per yr are eligible. The federal government estimates the growth will carry 100,000 kids out of poverty because of this.

Nonetheless, an estimated 123,000 kids throughout the UK are presently lacking out on the availability, regardless of being eligible. The growth doesn't introduce auto-enrolment, that means mother and father are suggested to use in good time.

Assist with healthcare prices

In sure circumstances, folks claiming particular advantages or on low incomes can get additional assist with healthcare-related prices by means of the NHS.

These on earnings assist, and income-based JSA or ESA, are robotically entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental therapy, sight assessments, and wigs. Refunds of vital journey prices will also be claimed.

Nonetheless, these legacy advantages will stop to be paid from April, when they are going to be absolutely changed by common credit score.

Common credit score claimants are solely eligible for a similar assist if their month-to-month family take-home pay is £435 or much less, or £935 or much less if claiming the kid or health-related aspect.

The NHS additionally runs a low-income scheme which anybody with lower than £16,000 in financial savings can apply for. This may help pay for the gadgets listed above.

Vitality invoice reductions

As the price of power stays stubbornly excessive publish Covid-19, there are a lot of technique of assist out there to assist deliver prices down.

One of many central DWP-administered schemes is the nice and cozy residence low cost, an annual £150 rebate which was lately prolonged to 2030-2031.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/21/14/4420d5f39bea02170517fee1c07d633fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYzODE5MDA1-2.37820759.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/21/14/4420d5f39bea02170517fee1c07d633fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYzODE5MDA1-2.37820759.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/11/21/14/4420d5f39bea02170517fee1c07d633fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzYzODE5MDA1-2.37820759.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="The Labour Government made an election pledge to cut the public’s energy bills by £300 a year" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

The Labour Authorities made an election pledge to chop the general public’s power payments by £300 a yr (PA Archive) The scheme was additionally expanded final yr to incorporate 2.7 million extra households, bringing the full to round six million.

These claiming sure advantages like common credit score and pension credit score ought to get a letter confirming their eligibility within the winter, with the automated low cost coming later.

Crucially, this doesn't apply to these dwelling in Scotland, who should apply for the scheme normally.

Quite a few power suppliers supply assist for these fighting their power payments. These embody British Gasoline, Scottish Energy, EDF, E.ON, OVO and Octopus.

Water invoice assist

For these fighting family prices, social tariffs can be found for each broadband and water payments. It will imply a decreased price for sure eligible households.

Each water firm working within the UK has a social tariff by legislation. Nonetheless, the quantity on supply can fluctuate between areas and, as a result of water suppliers can’t be chosen like power suppliers, the assist has been criticised as a “postcode lottery”.

As an illustration, some supply as a lot as 90 per cent off payments, whereas others cap assist at a 20 per cent discount.

Discounted journey

These claiming common credit score might be able to rise up to 50 per cent off transport prices with the Jobcentre Plus Journey Low cost card.

This cuts the value of chosen rail tickets, in addition to bus and Tube providers in London.

The cardboard is issued on the discretion of Jobcentre employees. Claimants aged between 18 and 24 can get the cardboard for 3 to 9 months at a time, whereas these aged 25 and over can get it for as much as 12.

Social broadband tariffs

Many broadband suppliers supply social tariffs to these on sure advantages like common credit score or pension credit score. Regulator Ofcom has a information to what's on supply.