Fears people people in Lancashire aren't accessing benefits due to stigma
New research has found that £23 billion a year is unclaimed in income-related benefits
New research has found £23 billion a year is unclaimed in income-related benefits, leading to fears people in Lancashire are worried about claiming because of stigma.
This is a 21% increase from last year with vital support not reaching millions of families who could be on average £2,700 a year better off if they claimed all available benefits.
The findings from national anti-poverty charity Turn2us also revealed that two-thirds of UK adults (64%) find the benefits system confusing and difficult to navigate.
Nearly half (49%) do not apply for benefits, underscoring the importance of changing perceptions alongside improving system accessibility.
Alicia Cartwright, from Preston, has had to navigate the system to support herself and her family despite working four jobs, she says it can be a nightmare: "Sometimes universal credit stops for daft reasons, and then that's it that's all your income gone, for an admin error.
"It's an absolute nightmare because people on benefits don't have the spare money to be dealing with think like that."
Alicia added that the stigma around claiming benefits can stop people from getting what they're entitled to: "Ypu're made to feel like a criminal just for claiming whats there to help you.
"It's a safety net, its there to help you, everyone is entitled to it.
"Anyone could find themselves in a situation of having to claim benefits unless you've got a lot of savings behind you, which most people don't, you can end up on benefits with just one piece of bad luck."
Turn2us, an anti-poverty and financial security charity, is trying to help people navigate the benefit system by creating a 'Benefits Calculator', an online tool that sheds light on which benefits are available.
In 2023, 60% of users who accessed the Turn2us Benefits Calculator discovered new benefits they could apply for, demonstrating the tool's effectiveness in clarifying eligibility.
This is particularly crucial given that 77% believe it would be difficult to claim benefits if their circumstances changed.
Almost a quarter (23%) of the adults surveyed had claimed benefits in the last two years, with Universal Credit (27%) and State Pension (36%) being the most claimed. Interestingly, while 27% agree that attitudes are changing towards benefits, a third (33%) disagree and still think there is a stigma attached.