‘Money Worries?’ – Barnet Council is here to help

Barnet Council’s ‘Money Worries?’ campaign is returning this month to once again highlight the national issue of benefits going unclaimed. Every year, it’s estimated that across the UK, more than £20billion of benefits that people are eligible for are not being claimed – and that’s what Barnet’s innovative and award-winning Financial Calculator is seeking to change for people struggling with the cost of living crisis in the borough.

This latest phase of the campaign is also highlighting to older residents and their loved ones to use the calculator to check for eligibility for Pension Credit – with 21 December the last day that claims can be submitted and backdated in order to access this year’s Winter Fuel Allowance payments. Residents who think they or their relatives may be eligible should complete a short self-assessment. The calculator has been updated to highlight Pension Credit eligibility, and now also includes a ‘support’ section where residents can find out their nearest food bank and be put in touch with the council’s free professional debt advice service delivered in partnership with the Money Adviser Network.

The campaign will see a range of outdoor advertising as well as targeted digital advertising to those communities most in need in the borough. We are also working with food banks, Age UK, BOOST and other organisations in the borough to raise greater awareness.

The Barnet Financial Calculator tool, developed in partnership with Inbest, helps identify what additional benefits residents might be eligible to claim, based on their personalised circumstances. Some of its additional features include:

• a comprehensive, all-in-one support portal, offering access to national benefits, social tariffs, retrofitting grants, and local grants
• highly accessible, including being available in over 100 languages
• simple and easy to complete and provides one-click access to go on and claim benefits where eligibility is confirmed.

Cllr Zahra Beg, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Voluntary and Community Sector, said: “When out meeting residents, the number one topic of discussion is the cost-of-living crisis and the impact it is having on households in Barnet. The ‘Money Worries?’ campaign, launched earlier this year, was a great way of providing a quick and easy solution for residents to find out if they are eligible for any extra help.

“This winter, we’re also wanting to raise awareness among our older residents of the potential to claim Pension Credit and access the Winter Fuel Allowance and are calling on people who may have older parents or relatives to help them carry out a quick self-assessment on the Barnet Financial Calculator. We know that people living in Barnet are potentially missing out on millions of pounds of benefits for which they are eligible, so I urge you to take ten minutes out of your day to complete the calculator. It could make a big difference to your lives.”

There is also a cost of living support webpage with more information and support: Cost of living support | Barnet Council

Notes to editors:

• Barnet Council and Inbest jointly won the 2023 Excellence in Innovation in the Fight Against Poverty award from the IRRV (Institute of Revenues, Ratings and Valuation)
• The ‘Money Worries?’ campaign has been shortlisted for the 2024 Comms2Point0 Unawards for ‘Best Use of Data’. The ceremony will take place on 6 December 2024.