Benefits: Are you underclaiming?

The benefits system is a subject that has become very much a political flashpoint in recent months but whatever your personal views on the rights and wrongs of some claimants, it undeniably provides a financial lifeline for many people in a high degree of need, writes CABA service manager Kelly Feehan.

At CABA, we have had a small team of experienced support officers whose role is to help chartered accountants or dependents who find they need to claim the benefits that are due to them. During April, we supported benefits awareness month, so we thought it would be interesting to blog about their work.

Overall, the organisers of benefits awareness month say that around a quarter of all benefits are unclaimed and our general experience would back up this figure.

For example, around 25% of pensioners who come to us for help can claim additional benefits, usually pension credits. It is not unusual to be able to boost the income of pensioners facing money problems by £150 per month and sometimes by double that amount.

We also find that underclaiming for disability is common. For example, carers often do not know that they can claim for a carer’s allowance in addition to any claims being made by the person being cared for.

Among accountants who are currently unemployed, most claim for the full amount available but that there is some underclaiming among the rising numbers becoming self-employed.

Many accountants who are setting up in business are eligible for tax credits while they get on their feet and this is an area where we have provided advice.

In almost every case we see, the additional benefits that we help accountants to claim have a real impact on their daily lives.

If you know someone in the profession who is facing difficult circumstances and may benefit from benefits advice, please ask them to get in touch.