Vulnerable lose out on benefits

WHILE PRIVILEGED MPs and City fat cat bankers appear to have public funds coming out of their ears, millions of low paid workers are missing out on their entitlement to tax credits and housing benefit, amounting to a staggering Ł16 billion a year.

According to many charities, four out of five low paid workers (1.2 billion households) are failing to claim tax credits worth at least Ł38 a week and half of working households did not claim their entitlement to housing benefit worth an average of Ł37.60 a week.

In addition up to three million households are thought to be missing out on council tax benefits and 1.7 million pensioners are not claiming pensions credit.

In a letter to Work and Pensions secretary Yvette Cooper, 27 charities have demanded government action to ensure that those in greatest need get what they are entitled to.

Ms Cooper ought to know about claiming entitlements. Along with her partner, cabinet member Ed Balls MP, she 'flipped' the designation of their second home to three different properties within the space of two years 'entitling' her to Ł24,400.

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In The Socialist 10 February 2010:

Fight university cuts