Billions of pounds meant for the UK’s most vulnerable are forecast to go unclaimed this year.

According to Policy in Practice data shared by the BBC, an estimated £11.1 billion of Universal Credit alone will go unclaimed in 2025-26, alongside billions more in Council Tax Support, Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit, and Child Benefit.

This isn’t a funding shortfall. The money is there, it’s just not reaching the people who need it most.

The BBC article highlights a truth those of us working in communities see every day: the problem isn’t always a lack of provision, it’s a lack of connection.

People don’t claim what they’re entitled to because:

• They don’t know they’re eligible.

• The process feels intimidating, confusing, or too time-consuming.

• They’ve had poor experiences with “the system” and no longer trust it.

• There’s no one to walk with them through the process.

This isn’t just a bureaucratic quirk, it’s a justice issue. Billions of pounds not claimed means billions not flowing into households, neighbourhoods, and local economies where they could stabilise lives.

This is where Angel Connect fits in.

Angels Connect directly tackles this access gap.

• Community-level confidence: Our training modules give ordinary volunteers and staff the ability to spot unmet need early and start a safe, informed conversation.

• Trusted relationships: People are far more likely to act on advice when it comes from someone they already know – a school worker, a faith leader, a community volunteer.

• Secure pathways: Digital referral tools mean cases don’t get lost. People are followed through until they receive the support they’re entitled to.

In short, Angels Connect turns unclaimed entitlements into real help, real money, and real hope for households.

Leaving £11.1bn in Universal Credit unclaimed isn’t just a tragedy — it’s a missed opportunity. Unclaimed benefits lead to:

• Worse health outcomes, driving up NHS costs.

• Housing insecurity, leading to expensive crisis interventions.

• Higher food bank demand, stretching voluntary sector capacity.

Angels Connect acts upstream, preventing those downstream crises by making sure people get what’s already theirs.

If every £1 spent on Angels Connect training and referrals results in multiple pounds in benefits successfully claimed, the return on investment is enormous, not just for households but for public services and local economies.

Funders and partners have a chance to turn the tide. Supporting Angels Connect isn’t simply supporting charity. It’s building a community infrastructure that pays back many times over.

As the BBC article makes clear, the money is there, we just need to unlock it.

• Local authorities: Embed Angels Connect into libraries, schools, and community hubs.

• Funders: See this as an investment in poverty prevention, not a sticking-plaster cost.

• Community groups: Train your volunteers and staff; become trusted guides for those who don’t know where to turn.

Because every pound claimed is a step toward dignity, stability, and justice.