Unclaimed benefits 'may negatively affect UK families'

Unclaimed benefits might harm families emotionally as well as financially, it has been suggested.

Worrying financial situations can place extra strain on people's relations with one another, Carena Rogers, policy adviser at the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI), believes.

While some consumers may look to get credit if they are faced with monetary concerns, Ms Rogers suggests that steps should be taken by the government to deal with unclaimed benefits.

She said: "The FPI would like to see the government invest as much money in creating simple, straightforward ways of encouraging people to claim for benefits as they do on preventing benefit fraud."

Ms Rogers also highlighted her belief that the benefits system itself may be putting a number of families off making applications for financial support.

The FPI exists to provide help to the country's parents and seeks to influence politicians to act in the interests of families.

Posted by Tom Burroughs.