Our latest report reveals £23 billion in unclaimed support

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Policy in Practice reveals £23 billion in support to go unclaimed this year
Our Missing out 2024 report revealed that 8.4 million people could be missing out on an average of £2,700 per year in support. This is a £4 billion increase on last year’s unclaimed figure of £19 billion. The increase is due to benefits uprating, the rollout of Universal Credit and newly released DWP figures. Since launching our Missing out analysis in 2023 over 0.5 billion households are better off by over £7.5 billion a year as a direct result of our work with partners using LIFT and the Better Off Calculator, a fantastic achievement for all our clients.
Equifax report launch: helping companies close the unclaimed support gap
Deven Ghelani and Stuart Bungay attended the launch of Equifax UK’s 2024 Financial Health report at the House of Lords. It is our second year working with them to help companies in regulated sectors close the unclaimed support gap. We contributed to the report, writing on unclaimed benefit support, the importance of investing in poverty reduction and the gender benefit gap. Request the report here. To find out how your company can help contact stuart.bungay@policyinpractice.co.uk.
Prime Minister launches further reforms to the benefits system
This month we attended The Centre for Social Justice's event to hear the Prime Minister's proposed reforms to the benefits system. The event covered changes to how people are assessed for their ability to work. Our Back to Work report, published last month, found that a tougher conditionality regime only moves people further away from work. Deven Ghelani and Rachael Walker discussed this and support for those in long term illness with Times Radio, Jacob Rees Mogg and Talk TV.
Benefit fraud and unclaimed benefits puts us in the news this month
Following the largest case of benefit fraud in Britain, Deven appeared on BBC Six News and BBC 5Live to reassure people that such cases are rare and they should still engage with the system. Our Missing out 2024 report received wide media coverage, Deven best summarised the report's findings on LBC with Shelagh Fogarty, explaining why support goes unclaimed and how people can check their eligibility. The report launched with an exclusive in The Sun, a feature with Chris Choi on ITV's Tonight show, coverage in The Guardian, The Mirror, The Big Issue, MALG and more.

Partners respond to Missing Out 2024: ‘more needs to be done’.

Speaking on the findings of our report, Claire Atchia McMaster, director of income and external affairs at anti poverty charity Turn2us, said: “At a time when so many people are struggling to afford basic necessities, navigating our benefits system should not be an additional burden… Clearer action from the government is crucial to ensure that this support reaches everyone who needs it.”

Independent Age tweeted: “There are 880,000 older people missing out on Pension Credit, despite being eligible. Every day we hear from older people who aren't receiving support they're entitled to and which could make a difference. This is a widespread issue which needs change.”

Deven Ghelani speaks at Resolution Foundation report on Universal Credit rollout

The Resolution Foundation hosted a launch event for their latest report reviewing the rollout of Universal Credit, acknowledging its strengths while examining where it has yet to reach its potential. Speaking on the panel, Deven Ghelani highlighted that UC is a better platform to build on than the legacy system as it has simplified and digitalised benefits. Last year we hosted a cross party event to mark 10 years of Universal Credit at the House of Lords where the consensus was that any policy can only be as successful as its implementation which is how policy makes a difference in people’s lives.

Policy in Practice launches Healthy Start take up campaign with four London boroughs

A campaign encouraging families to apply for the Healthy Start Scheme launched this month across Redbridge, Haringey, Lewisham and Greenwich councils. Supported by the Greater London Authority, the project aims to help households access crucial nutritional and financial support for their young children.

Healthy Start is worth up to £280 a year for families and can help buy food and milk for children under four years old or for a person who is over 10 weeks pregnant.

Our award winning Better Off Calculator is continually evolving to deliver the most impact for individual users and organisations. For the past ten years the Better Off Calculator has helped people identify what benefits they're eligible for. We know that even people already claiming benefits often miss out on something such as Council Tax Support, social tariffs or bill support, or elements of Universal Credit.

Users have told us that knowing more about what benefits someone is eligible for and what they're already claiming would be helpful. So, we are introducing new features and improving existing ones to help you to understand this uplift.

Vote: Policy in Practice in the Smartmoneypeople Consumer Credit Awards
Read: Unlocking impact: Top 10 features in the Better Off Calculator
Learn: How to grow the financial strength of your customers

Webinar replay: Data driven success: from tackling homelessness to unlocking £1m income and unlocking £1m income and recovering over £550k of debt

Listen back to hear

The national context and focussing on our new report – How £23 billion of income related benefits and social tariffs goes unclaimed every year
Bracknell Forest Council case study – From tackling homelessness to unlocking £1m income and recovering over £550k of debt
More information about LIFT, our Low Income Family Tracker, focussing on how LIFT can be used to identify vulnerable people and target support
Questions and answers with our panel

With guest speaker Sharon Warner, Head of Welfare, Bracknell Forest Council

We were out and about in April

Director and founder Deven Ghelani represented Policy in Practice at the CIVEA conference. Joined by panelists Sue Chapple from CICM and Muna Yassin from Rooted Finance, they delved into the challenges facing the civil enforcement industry in a post-pandemic world.

Deven emphasised the importance of proactive income maximisation to benefit both residents and service providers alike, stating: "I’d like to see more proactive income maximisation earlier in the debt recovery process. Ideally before people get into debt. It’s a cross-sector problem, whether it’s water or council tax, maximising income is a win-win for resident and service providers."

Client Services Manager, Abigail Everett, and Head of Business Development, Sam Fathers attended Solace in the South. With a central theme of "What is local government really for?" and with the upcoming general election, discussions were themed around what the future holds.

Genevieve Orford and Elena Marinaki spoke to bright eyed teens at a codeHER event, a women-led nonprofit dedicated to empowering economically disadvantaged girls with tech and leadership skills.\
We'll be at the IRRV Spring conference, Milton Keynes, in May and look forward to seeing you there.

To contact any member of the team email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk

Blogs you may have missed

Disability benefits system review: the devil is in the detail

Policy in Practice was invited to the Prime Minister’s launch of further reforms to the disability benefits system today.

by Jack Rowlands
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Missing out 2024: £23 billion of support is unclaimed each year

Policy in Practice estimates that total unclaimed income related benefits and social tariffs in the UK is now £23 billion, more than 2023

by Rachael Walker
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Why people don’t claim benefits and support they are eligible for

With updated numbers for unclaimed benefits for 2024 coming soon we look at the reasons why people don’t claim support they’re eligible for

by Kate Collins
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