Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to all households earning less than £30,000

MARTIN Lewis has urged households bringing in less than £30,000 a year to check if they are eligible for extra help.

Millions of Brits are missing out on benefits that could boost their income and make all the difference.

A mum of three who was struggling to afford school dinner money has shared how she ended up getting Universal Credit worth thousands of pounds a year.

The Martin Lewis fan said she took the advice after watching the money saving expert's ITV show, which she watched "with a pen and paper taking notes".

In a letter sent to Martin and published in the mum said: "I work full-time, but can't afford to go on holiday or to take the children to the movies to say the least.

"I have been struggling to pay dinner money so that my children get a decent meal at school, yet I work. Full-time."

She added: ";When you advised people to try claiming universal credit, I did!

"Guess what? I'm actually entitled. I was awarded half of my rent, worth more than £3,700 a year."

Charity Turn2us has warned that in total, at least seven million people across the UK are missing out on over £15 billion of unclaimed benefits.

One million people alone are missing out on £2.9billion on Universal Credit, worth on average £2,900 each.

A recent change to rules for claiming Universal Credit while working means that around half a million families who didn't qualify for help before now do.

And it's not just this money either. Pension Credit, housing benefit, tax credits and council tax support are all going unclaimed.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show, Martin said that checking what you're entitled to couldn't be easier.

He said: “If you have an income of less than £30,000 and you are struggling it's worth spending 10 minutes on a benefits calculator to see what you are entitled to.”