ALMOST one million individuals on benefits are missing out on billions of pounds in extra payments, new figures reveal.

These people do receive benefits, but their needs have increased since their initial claims, and they have not yet received the additional support they are entitled to.

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For the first time, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a report providing these figures.

The report reveals that nearly one million people are missing out on approximately £3.1billion in extra payments in 2023/24, up from £2.3billion in 2022/23.

Those with active claims for disability living allowance, personal independence payments (PIP), and Universal Credit were most likely to be affected, which could leave them up to £2,900 a year worse off.

Previously, the DWP only offered separate statistics on the number of people claiming each benefit and the amounts they receive, as well as the number of people who do not claim benefits they are entitled to and the amounts they are missing out on.

The new report, however, highlights the issue of “unfulfilled” benefits – where claimants are not receiving all the benefits components they qualify for.

Examples of “unfulfilled” benefits include:

• A person who initially claims a disability benefit but whose condition worsens potentially qualifies for a higher rate of benefit that they have not applied for.
• Someone receiving help with rent through Universal Credit who has not reported an increased rent since their last assessment.
• An individual whose savings have decreased since their last assessment, making them eligible for more benefit

Steve Webb, former pensions minister and partner at LCP, said: “There is understandable focus on people who miss out completely on benefits to which they are entitled. 

“But this new report shines a helpful light on another reason why people may be missing out on billions of pounds in benefits. 

“These are cases where people’s circumstances have changed since they first claimed benefit and would now be entitled to extra help but have not updated DWP. “

MOST UNFULFILLED BENEFITS

The three largest benefits, accounting for around three quarters of “unfulfilled” benefit expenditure are:

• Personal independence payment (PIP) – £870million (around £2,900 for each claim affected)
• Disability living allowance (DLA) – £750million (around £2,500 for each claim affected)
• Universal Credit – £730million (around £2,100 for each claim affected)

The DWP estimates that over 300,000 people on PIP qualify for bigger payments.

Millions of households suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health condition can get extra help through personal PIP.

PIP has two parts, both of which are assessed separately.

Whether you get one or both depends on how severely your condition affects you.

If you need help getting out or moving around, you may qualify for the mobility part of PIP.

The weekly rate is either £28.70 or £75.75.

The weekly rate for the daily living part of PIP is either £72.65 or £105.55.

You could get up to £184.30 a week if you qualify for both components.

According to DWP data, individuals with “unfulfilled” PIP claims could increase their payments by up to £2,900 annually.

A further 300,000 DLA claimants are thought to be missing out on boosted payments worth up to £2,500 a year, too.

The benefit provides extra support for people who have care or mobility needs.

DLA is been replaced by PIP and attendance allowance.

However, if you still claim the benefit, you could report a change in circumstances and get your payments boosted in the meantime.

The DWP’s new report also shows that around 350,000 Universal Credit claimants are missing out on an extra £2,100 a year in payments.

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. 

How much money you’ll get depends on your circumstances, but the monthly standard allowance is £393.45 for a single person over 25 and £617.60 for a couple who are both over that age.

If you have a disability or health condition, or if your child does, there are extra top-ups you can get in your Universal Credit award.

If you rent, you can also get help towards those costs and any service fees you might pay.

Steve Webb added: “I would encourage anyone on a disability benefit whose condition has worsened or anyone on a housing benefit whose rent has gone up to make sure that DWP are aware of their latest situation. 

“Anyone on a means-tested benefit who has seen their savings fall since they were last assessed should also update the DWP. 

“We need to ensure that all benefits are paid on the basis of people’s current needs and not their situation months or years ago.”

One in four adults think they have ADHD and social media is driving trend for self-diagnosis.

One in four adults think they have ‘hidden’ ADHD — with social media driving a wave of self-diagnosis, scientists have claimed.

According to academics, social media is fuelling a surge in self-diagnosis of ADHD, with one in four adults believing they have “hidden” ADHD.

Related: 5 Highly Successful People You Didn’t Know Had ADHD

However, hardly half (13%) have actually contacted a mediator, according to US-based specialists who conducted a recent study monitoring the trend.

Less than one in twenty persons in the UK, according to research, genuinely have the illness, which is defined by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and difficulties concentrating.
They said that these numbers sparked worries that there may be undetected health issues causing comparable symptoms.

Related: 10 Highly Successful People You Didn’t Know Were Neurodivergent

Attivo has appointed Jo French as its chief executive officer.

French has over 25 years of financial services and global business experience and was previously Schroders’ business transformation director.

She was also Benchmark Capital chief operating officer and previously held managing director roles at specialist Sipp firm Pointon York and Embark Group.

In addition, she also spent over seven years with NFU Mutual Insurance.

In her new role, French will take over the running of the investment operations team and will be responsible for Attivo’s investment platform strategy.

She will be based in Attivo’s Cheltenham head office.

Attivo chair Stephen Harper will continue in his role and lead the strategy for the business.

Attivo said French will lead the delivery of operational improvements to ensure the business continues to grow and improve the client experience and service.

French said: “I’ve been hugely impressed by the unflinching focus throughout the business on better delivering for current and future clients.

“As client requirements become more complex, and technology evolves, it is essential that the advice landscape is shaped to properly reflect the dynamic challenges of the modern family.

“The team at Attivo is determined to put lifestyle financial planning firmly at the heart of the UK advice market.

“It’s hugely exciting to be asked to help make that happen.”

Harper added: “We are a hugely ambitious business, with a significant growth plan already underway.

“The experience, attitude, and know-how that Jo brings is going to be hugely valuable as the business continues to expand and we navigate this next chapter.

“Jo shares our passion for advice, our hunger for innovation, and our determination to lead the industry from the front.

“It’s a significant endorsement of our strategy that she’s chosen to help execute it, and I look forward to working together.”

Attivo is a chartered independent lifestyle financial planning business.

THOUSANDS of people are stung by fraudsters every day in an unprecedented national “scamdemic”, a top law firm has said.

More than £7.5billion is lost to professional dupers each year with victims – who are tricked by fakers claiming to be trusted companies or relatives – often left homeless, depressed and out of work.

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Martin Richardson, of Richardson Hartley Law’s National Fraud Helpline, said: “There’s a hidden fraud pandemic in the UK that’s being hugely under-estimated.

“We deal with people who have been left homeless, split up with their partners, been plunged into depression and forced to take on extra jobs.

“International criminals are harnessing the power of technology to commit increasingly sophisticated scams. With the advent of AI this is only going to get worse.

Changes earlier this month forced financiers to pay back people who are tricked into transferring money from their accounts within five days.

But expert Martin said the measures may not go far enough as many victims lose more than the £85,000 threshold.

He added: “There’s a danger that this means some banks will cap the amount of compensation rather than compensate the full amount.”

Victims above the threshold include builder Colin Theobold, 61, who lost £95,000 after falling for an Instagram cryptocurrency scam.

He said: “Towards the end of each month I know I have to pay off the loans and it plays on my mind. I have panic attacks.”

“I was in a bad place at the time as I’d suffered from pneumonia for months was really ill and also got sepsis. Everything was on top of me.”

His bank, Revolut, rejected his claim saying they gave him sufficient scam warnings.

It comes after it was reported scammers were using AI bots to replicate children’s voices in a bid to trick parents into sending cash to fraud accounts.