It’s highly unlikely you’d be sat a dinner table with friends, talking about the benefits you might be on and comparing like for like.  However, in the current recession, it’s very likely that more people than you think, are claiming benefits – or at least, they should be.

A recent Dispatches programme aired earlier this year, showed many people refusing to claim their benefits as they felt it defined their social status as one to be ashamed of, rather than acknowledging it as the much needed financial help it is.

Most notably, this has been discovered within the group of middle to senior management professionals who’ve been made redundant due to the economic climate and have struggled to find new employment which would match the salary they had accustomed their lifestyle to rely on.

I have talked about benefits on this blog space before and it’s time to talk about them again, to make sure you’re getting what you’re entitled to – after all, isn’t that why you pay your taxes?!

As of 2nd November, changes are to be introduced to help debtors with young families.  Those who qualify for the extra help will already be receiving child benefits and renting a home.

We are promised more “benefits” of this nature from our Government in the future and if this does happen, it will be genuinely welcomed.  Now more than ever, we the right financial support integrated into “the system” to help those who need it the most – even if they don’t want to admit it.  And for those who fall into this category and have opted out of claiming their benefits because they “think” they don’t need them – think again.  This is your entitlement as a UK citizen and tax payer and no matter how high your pride, getting out of debt must be a higher priority on your list.