Barriers to accessing information, advice and support

• The main barrier to accessing information and advice is not knowing whether they are eligible (40%)
• 29% don’t think they will be able to help
• 14% don’t want others to know that they need support, and 13% are unsure where to go to get help
• 42% say nothing is making it difficult to access information and advice

This chart shows what makes it difficult to access information, advice and support:
40% say not knowing if they’re eligible
29% say they don’t think they’ll be able to help
14% say not wanting others to know they need support
13% say they don’t know where to go to get help
5% say not understanding the application form
4% say that they have had a bad experience in the past
3% say not having online access
3% say not being able to reach help
1% have experienced other barriers
42% say nothing

Age

The youngest demographic are least likely to know where to go for help (18%), not be able to reach help (8%), not know if they are eligible (62%), not have internet usage (8%) and to not want others to know that they need support (42%).

Those aged 35-55 are most likely to have had a bad experience in the past (6%-7%).

Disability

Those with a disability are less likely to know where to go for help (17%), not know if they are eligible (47%), not think they’ll be able to do anything to help (35%), not understand the application form (10%), not want others to know they need support (20%) and to have had a bad experience in the past (6%).

Children in household

Those with children in their household are more likely to experience all these barriers than those households without children.

Ethnic group

Those from ethnic minority groups are less likely to know where to go for help (18%), not want others to know they need support (23%), not know if they are eligible (50%), not be able to reach help (11%) and not have internet access (11%).

Household income

Those with the lowest household income are least likely to know where to go to get help (19%), most unlikely to know if they are eligible (63%), not have internet access (7%), not understand the application form (12%), not want others to know they need support (31%), and had a bad experience in the past (11%).

Middle household incomes are most likely to think they won’t be able to help (34% to 38%).

Housing status

Those renting from a local authority are most likely to not know where to go for help (25%), not be able to reach help (8%), not understand the application form (26%), not want others to know that they need support (37%), and to have had a bad experience in the past (7%).

Private renters are most likely to worry about eligibility (58%) and think that they won’t be able to help (37%).