Mayor: New cash claims campaign

Hundreds of thousands of Londoners could be missing out on money to which they are entitled, according to figures collated by the Greater London Authority.

And the Mayor has launched a new campaign to help vulnerable and hard to reach groups claim cash they could be entitled to.

The GLA estimates that at least £1 billion could be going unclaimed in London each year – money which would not only help working families on low incomes, the elderly and other vulnerable groups make ends meet, but could also boost London's economy, with people having more cash to spend on goods and services.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced a new awareness campaign aimed at Londoners eligible to claim for tax credits and other benefits.

The idea is similar to the Annual Tax Credit Campaign recently launched in New York, which also aims to ensure that more New Yorkers are able to claim tax refunds they are eligible for.

More than 120,000 families in London could be entitled to claim Working Tax Credits to help them eke out their wages, but are not claiming it.

Around half of London children living in poverty have at least one parent in work. One in three pensioners who are entitled to Pension Credit may be missing out.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said;  "There are too many Londoners struggling to pay for basics such as heating, housing and food bills, when many could be better off simply by getting the tax credits and other benefits they are entitled to. It is scandalous that £1 billion a year could be going unclaimed in the capital each year, cash that could make a real difference to the lives of hard working families and older and vulnerable Londoners."

To find out more see the 'Know your rights' welfare benefits campaign launched today.