Residents urged to complete ‘Financial Calculator’ through new campaign

Every year, nationally, it is estimated that more than £18billion of benefits go unclaimed. This issue is getting worse year on year (21% increase in 2023). This means in Barnet that millions are going unclaimed.

A new campaign – Money Worries? – launched this week by Barnet Council is trying to change that, through encouraging residents to complete a quick, easy self-assessment on the Barnet Financial Calculator.

The award-winning, innovative tool helps identify what additional benefits residents might be eligible to claim, based on their personalised circumstances. The Financial Calculator also provides users with additional support and signposting to other helpful resources to manage their finances and bills once they have completed a self-assessment, creating a more holistic approach to supporting people through the Cost-of-Living crisis. Some of its 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.

Alongside the Financial Calculator, the Money Worries? campaign is also raising awareness of a new partnership the council has struck with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to provide free, personalised and confidential debt advice to residents who have found themselves in problem debt.

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 Barnet Financial Calculator and MaPS debt advice service are two ways of helping to ease the pressure on our residents. 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.”