Wales faces a significant challenge with an estimated £2 billion in unclaimed benefits each year. Despite strong and promising national conversations, more needs to be done at the local level to support vulnerable residents in accessing the support they deserve.
This webinar brings together Welsh local authorities, Citizens Advice Wales and housing providers to explore current initiatives and discuss how these efforts can be expanded across the region.
Listen back to hear:
- Our work in Wales: Rachael Walker, Policy in Practice
- Cardiff and Vale guest presentation: Callum Lavin, Citizens Advice
- Neath Port Talbot Council, case study: Sam Fathers, Policy in Practice
- Grŵp Cynefin, case study: Rhiannon Dafydd, Grŵp Cynefin
- Introduction to LIFT: Sam Fathers, Policy in Practice
View the webinar
£117 million in Pension Credit alone goes unclaimed each year in Wales and with new changes, more Winter Fuel Payments will also be left unclaimed. While we may not recover all of it, we’re making progress. Pension Credit applications have soared nationally, proving that change is possible. Through proactive data and campaigns, we’re helping more people access the money they’re entitled to and we’re determined to expand this hugely successful work.
In three months alone, we supported 1,145 households, with 1,048 of them eligible for some form of income maximisation adding up to over £1 million in financial support. It’s striking to see these numbers and the impact they have. Through every interaction, we encourage clients to check their benefits, even if they’re visiting us for an unrelated issue. Often, those who thought they weren’t eligible discover they actually are and even a modest increase can make a real difference.
Neath Port Talbot has been ahead of the curve in supporting households with Pension Credit (PC). By leveraging the data from their LIFT platform, they’ve been identifying households that are eligible but missing out on PC and going beyond just outreach to actively support the application process. They’re seeing some of the highest take up rates nationally and have already delivered over £2.5 million in additional benefits, making a real difference for pensioners and households.
Since 2017, we've relied heavily on the Better Off Calculator from Policy in Practice to support our tenants. It's become an essential tool for our financial welfare officers, helping to ensure tenants receive the full benefits they’re entitled to. In the past three months alone, 78% of households were missing out on some form of benefit and the calculator helped us identify over £126,000 in additional financial gains for our tenants. It’s about making sure people are getting what they need to stay financially secure.