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Apologies for not responding sooner, I hadn't subscribed to the topic.
In brief, some reasons for low take up (others might have other examples):
* ignorance of rights;
* public perception of being a claimant (stigma);
* fear of discrimination (the clients in our waiting room heard another complain of being "the wrong colour" to get benefits);
* over-emphasis on fraud initiatives;
* inadequate or misleading advice;
* personal bad experience of claiming (which might encompass any other example or others);
* being put off by others' bad experiences;
* poor value of entitlement (i.e. claimants that don't think it's worth it);
* lack of information (or, sometimes, too much information);
* complexity;
* poor attitude of those administering benefits.
Only some of these are attributable to, and can be tackled by, local authorities and the benefits system. Some can be tackled by information and advice providers. Mostly, in my opinion, the biggest change that will help is the least possible - a fundamental change in the basic attitudes and beliefs of our society and culture encompassing individuals, national and local government and the media. The things that go to the very heart of a our existence and which have evolved over the thousands of years of the development of human culture.
Personally, I think its more likely that I will win the lottery, or that the planet will be killed by global warming or meteor impact before that happens.
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