City Hall now offering extra help for people missing out on unclaimed benefits

More than £4bn in benefits such as pension credit and carer’s allowance are still being left on the table by thousands of Londoners, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has announced £5million in funding to boost uptake of £4billion-worth of benefits currently going unclaimed every year across the capital, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal.

City Hall has already assisted over 170,000 Londoners claim more than £108m in financial support they were entitled to but did not claim since 2022.

However, more than £4bn in benefits such as pension credit and carer’s allowance are still being left on the table by thousands of Londoners.

This week Khan announced he will extend the work of his Family Financial Resilience Partnership to 19 boroughs across the capital over the next two years, meaning thousands more families will receive free, independent advice to help them claim financial support that they are entitled to.

It is estimated that this could help a further 29,000 families access £18m worth of support.

“I’m committed to doing everything I can to support Londoners with the cost-of-living and am proud that we have already helped over 170,000 Londoners claim more than £108m in financial support that they are entitled to,” the mayor told the LDRS.

“This money is making a big difference to help their daily lives and that’s why I’m providing further funding to ensure even more families on low incomes can get support.”

Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Khan’s deputy mayor for communities and social justice, said many Londoners are still “completely unaware or unable to access the financial support that is available to them” despite the cost-of-living crisis.

Policy in Practice, a social policy software and analytics company, released a report last year revealing that over seven million households across the UK are missing out on £24billion of support, with the highest unclaimed amounts found in universal credit, council tax support and carer’s allowance.

They said that people generally miss out on benefits “due to limited awareness, complexity in the system and stigma around claiming”, adding: “Many people simply don’t know they’re eligible, especially if they are working, have some savings, or their circumstances have recently changed.

“Navigating the benefits system can be overwhelming,particularly for people with low digital skills, limited time, health issues or language barriers

“Long forms, unclear guidance and inconsistent experiences across the organisations administering benefits make it hard to know where to start and easy to give up.

“Stigma also plays a powerful role. Social attitudes and media coverage often frame benefit recipients as undeserving, deterring people from seeking help.”

Abigail Everett, head of client services at Policy in Practice, said: “Our ongoing partnership with the Greater London Authority shows the tangible impact of using data to bridge the gap in unclaimed support.

“Delivering over £108m directly into residents’ pockets is a powerful reminder of what collaborative, proactive action can achieve.

“By pairing targeted outreach with long-term financial resilience, we are keeping households out of crisis and taking meaningful steps towards closing London’s £4billion unclaimed benefits gap.”

Following a visit to the Barking Learning Centre Community and Family Hub in East London, Dr Weekes-Bernard said that extending the programme to more local authorities was crucial “as winter approaches and concerns about covering bills increase”.

One service user at the centre, who received support following homelessness and domestic abuse, said: “When I first reached out for support, I was going through an incredibly stressful and difficult time. I felt overwhelmed and worried about my situation and, most importantly, about the wellbeing and safety of my children.

“The advice and referrals I have received have been incredibly helpful. They have helped me understand what support is available, what steps I can take, and where to turn when I need assistance. Knowing that someone is listening to me, taking my concerns seriously, and helping me find the right support has made me feel less alone during a very challenging time.”

Another, who received support for their son’s special educational needs, added: “We no longer feel that we have to navigate these challenges alone, which has made a meaningful difference to our family.”

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.