Half of low income households at risk of missing out on vital welfare benefits
You hear a lot of political propaganda in this country and others about how so many people choose to live on welfare benefits as a lifestyle choice when allegedly they could simply go out and obtain satisfying paid work. The reality is, of course, utterly different. It is estimated by the Government itself that the amount of benefits to which UK citizens are entitled but which they do not claim is over £13 billion a year.
I chair a body called the Essential Services Access Network and one of our members is a body called Turn2Us. New research by the organisation has found that almost half (48%) of low income households are not claiming the welfare benefits and tax credits to which they could be entitled. Turn2Us is currently running a campaign to encourage low income households to claim the benefits to which they are entitled.