Do this simple 10-minute check if you earn under £60,000, urges Martin Lewis

Money guru, Martin Lewis, says households earning under £60,000 could be missing out on extra cash.

The MoneySavingExpert.com founder explained that a 10-minute check is all it takes to find out if you are eligible for Universal Credit.

Writing in his latest newsletter, he said: ‘Who’s likely missing out? Households with lower incomes, up to roughly £35,000 a year, though if you’ve kids, high childcare costs and rent, it could be £60,000.’

His advice comes after a report by think tank Policy in Practice showed an estimated £23billion in means-tested benefits and social tariffs went unclaimed during the last financial year.

This includes £8billion in Universal Credit that has not been claimed by up to 1.4 million people.

Policy in Practice found the average amount of Universal Credit people are failing to claim each year is £5,772.

Martin, meanwhile, said households who do claim Universal Credit could could qualify for other financial help, such as free school meals or discounted utility bills.

His website features a benefits calculator where you can check whether you’re eligible – and it only takes about 10 minutes.

Just make sure you have all the necessary paperwork ready, such as information on other benefits and pensions, plus bank statements.

The government increased benefit rates by 6.7% on April 8, in line with the price index (CPI) level of inflation for September 2023.

Last month Martin warned that at least three million people receiving benefits are ‘missing out’ on as much as £1,000 in Council Tax support.

He said households could get a discount of up to 90% off their council tax if they receive Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

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