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What England owes you
£19–24 billion in benefits goes unclaimed every year — not because people don't want it, but because the system is buried in jargon. Here's how to claim yours.
£0Unclaimed across Great Britain every year
0Households missing Council Tax Support
£0Universal Credit unclaimed
£0Tax-free ISA allowance / year
Verified against official sources
Sources GOV.UK HMRC Your local council DWP
Updated 23 Jun 2026
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Claim these this week
The three biggest pools of unclaimed money in England right now.
⚡ Fast claims · most done online
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Council Tax Support — £2.8bn sitting there
The most underclaimed benefit in England — 2.7 million eligible people miss out. Apply via your local council website.
Pension Credit — ~£4,300/year
Massively underclaimed by older residents. Unlocks a free TV licence, Cold Weather Payments and Housing Benefit. gov.uk/pension-credit.
Marriage Allowance — up to £1,008 back
£252/year, backdated 4 years. Qualifies if one partner earns below £12,570 — gov.uk/marriage-allowance.
Unclaimed Benefits
£19 billion left on the table
Who qualifies, how much, and exactly where to apply.
Universal Credit
£7.5bn poolPension Credit
~£4,300/yrWarm Home Discount
£150 off
HMRC Reliefs
Tax money HMRC owes you
Millions overpay tax and never reclaim it. Most reliefs can be backdated.
| Relief | Worth | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage Allowance | £252/yr | One partner earns below the £12,570 personal allowance — backdate 4 years (£1,008) |
| Self Assessment Refunds | varies | Changed jobs, gaps in employment, or paid emergency tax — millions overpay |
| Child Benefit (NI credits) | NI credits | Claiming preserves National Insurance credits even if you repay some via the High Income charge |
| Pension tax relief | 20–40% | Relief at your marginal rate on approved pension contributions |
Overpaid tax can be reclaimed for previous years — start at gov.uk/claim-tax-refund.
Energy & Bills
Stop overpaying — quietly
Savings your supplier isn't going out of its way to mention.
| Action | Saving | How |
|---|---|---|
| Warm Home Discount | £150 | Off your electricity bill if on low income or certain benefits — gov.uk |
| Switch / fix energy deal | Depends on usage | Compare on MoneySuperMarket or Uswitch the month your fixed deal ends |
| Never auto-renew broadband/mobile | Depends on your deal | Ring and say you are leaving. Ask for the retention team by name — the first person who answers usually cannot authorise the better price |
| Cashback stacking | A % of what you spend | TopCashback and Quidco pay a share of the retailer's commission. Only worth it on something you were buying anyway |
| Cold Weather Payments | £25/spell | Automatic for qualifying benefits during cold spells — check you're recorded |
Savings & ISAs
Make your money work — tax-free
Plain-English options to grow what you have, without being sold something.
Stocks & Shares ISA
£20,000 annual tax-free allowance — all growth and income is completely tax-free. Platforms: Vanguard, Freetrade, InvestEngine.
Pensions — free money
Many employers match contributions. Higher-rate relief means £100 in your pension can cost you as little as £60.
Index Fund Investing
Start from small monthly amounts. Long-term historical returns of 7–10% annually — without picking stocks.
Martin Lewis / MoneySavingExpert
Free, trusted guides on every UK money topic. moneysavingexpert.com
Check what you're entitled to
Seven questions, no sign-up and no personal details, then a named list of what you could claim. If you would rather use the official route, gov.uk lists approved calculators too.
What Retailers Hide
The tricks used on you every shop
Small habits that quietly cost you hundreds a year.
The .99 Trick
£1.99 feels like £1 because your brain reads left to right. Always round up mentally.
Fake Multi-Buy Deals
10% of multi-buy deals cost more than buying singly (Which?). Always check the unit price — it must be displayed.
Fake Crossed-Out Prices
A discount is only legal if the item sold at the higher price for a reasonable period. Many don't — verify with price trackers.
The Middle Choice Trap
Cheap, medium, expensive shown together — most pick the middle. Retailers engineer this; it's usually highest-margin.
Loyalty Card Data
Your data builds a profile and sends offers designed to grow your spend, not your savings. Take the points, ignore the nudges.
Shrinkflation
Same price, less product. Always buy on price per unit — never on the pack price.
Step-by-step
Guides for England
Plain-English walkthroughs for claiming exactly what you're owed.
Universal Credit
PIP (disability payment)
Attendance Allowance (£114.60/wk)
Pension Credit (£4,300)
Cut your Council Tax
Carer's Allowance
Child Benefit
Help with rent
Winter heating payments
5 UK benefits you're missing
How to claim a tax refund
Money deadlines & closing soon
Marriage Allowance (save £252)
Household Support Fund
Healthy Start & Free School Meals
Warm Home Discount & Cold Weather Payment
How to appeal a benefit decision
Section 75 & chargeback
The State Pension
Childcare (Tax-Free Childcare)
Social tariffs (cheap broadband)
Tenant rights you should know
Cashback (free money)
How to spot a scam
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