Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website is urging anyone earning £35,000 or less to get £5,800 from the DWP.

The MSE site says as many as a staggering 1.4million people are missing out on an average of £5,800 a year of Universal Credit payments, especially those earning under £35,000.

Part of what the ‘catch all’ monthly benefit does is support people on low incomes or no income with their housing or living costs.

Those on lower incomes are thought to be missing out on payments worth an average of £5,800 a year.

But if you have children or high childcare costs, you could still be eligible for some Universal Credit payments – even if you earn up to £60,000 a year, Martin Lewis’ MSE says.

The government’s Universal Credit website says: “You may be able to get Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs. You could be: out of work, working (including self-employed or part time) or unable to work, for example because of a health condition.”

The government says claimants must live in the UK, be aged 18 or over and be under state pension age.

You also must have £16,000 or less in your bank account, including savings or investments.

If one of you or your partner has reached state pension age, you can still claim Universal Credit as a couple but these payments will stop once both of you reach state pension age.

You can claim the benefit as a single earner living alone, or if you live with other people (such as a house share or flat share). In these cases, only your income will be counted against the benefit, not ‘household income’.

But if you live with a partner, such as a girlfriend/boyfriend or wife/husband, it’s the household income for the two of you combined which will be used to calculate what you might be able to get on Universal Credit as a top-up to your household income.

For those with childcare costs and rent, the money you could earn could be as high as £60,000.

Martin Lewis’ MSE said: “UNIVERSAL CREDIT – 1.4 MILLION miss out on an average of up to £5,800 a year.

“The catch-all monthly benefit to support those of working age (with low or no income) with living and housing costs. Who’s likely missing out?

“Households with lower incomes, up to roughly £35,000/yr, though if you’ve kids, high childcare costs and rent, it could be £60,000/yr.”