Benefits worth millions unclaimed in Greater Manchester

Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford (SORT) group is urging residents to check if they can boost their income after getting a surge in people looking for help with money.

Last year, it helped more than 11,000 people with benefits in the four boroughs – an increase of 44 percent compared to 2022.

Research cited by the group from Policy in Practice found there could be around £80 million of unclaimed Pension Credit alone around Greater Manchester, a benefit that can help people of State Pension age living on low incomes.

The Citizens Advice SORT group said benefits go unclaimed due to administrative complexity, a lack of awareness, stigma, and the increasingly fragmented nature of support.

Many people it sees are “simply unaware” that they can claim support given their circumstances or income.

An Oldham resident named Carol was helped by the charity after falling into a difficult financial situation.

The family were left in “financial crisis” and were facing being evicted from their home.

They had fallen behind on their rent which they hadn’t managed to pay since April 2023.

Carol reached pension age in 2023 but hadn’t realised, meaning she lost her Universal Credit, which had a housing element for rent.

Citizens Advice SORT helped her to claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, which were backdated.

Carol said: “I was in a right mess. I was ready to jump off a bridge. I had no money and I was about to be evicted.

“I wouldn’t be here today without the help.”

A Stockport resident, who didn’t want their name published, was dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis and looked for financial help.

They were entitled to Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit – which helped them boost their income by £18,000.

Citizens Advice SORT said many more people around Greater Manchester could be missing out on this “vital” support which they are entitled to.

Aly Darwin, acting head of business delivery at the group, said: “We regularly see people who are struggling to make ends meet and handle the rising cost of living.

“Many are simply not aware that they may be entitled to benefits or other financial support that could provide vital relief during this challenging economic time.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Support is available to help claimants make a claim to Universal Credit through Help to Claim which offers free, impartial and confidential support online and via a dedicated helpline and we have work coaches across 28 job centres across the Greater Manchester area to support anyone who needs help.

“We know that work continues to be the best route out of poverty and children are five times more likely to experience poverty in a household where no-one works, which is why our £2.5bn Back to Work Plan is going further by helping over a million people to find and stay in work while we cut taxes and bring down inflation to provide families with greater financial security.”

Citizens Advice SORT has access to a benefits calculator which they can use to find out what people may qualify for.

You can contact Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford via its web site - www.casort.org - or via phone on 0808 278 7803. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.30pm and all calls are free of charge.

Declan Carey, Local Democracy Reporting Service