Climb aboard the bus for benefit advice (From This Is Cheshire)

Climb aboard the bus for benefit advice

4:20pm Tuesday 26th August 2008 in

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RESIDENTS across Warrington will have the chance to find out what extra savings they could make when the benefits bus rolls into town this week.

An estimated £1.8 million of council tax benefit goes unclaimed each year across the UK.

Benefits like those for council tax offer anyone on a low income help towards paying bills.

Many people, particularly pensioners who own their own homes, are unaware that they have the right to this help.

The bus is a mobile advice centre that offers help on finding housing, council tax, education and other benefits that people may not be aware they can claim for.

Whether people are out of work or on a low income the hi-tech bus has all the advice needed to help people find out their entitlements.

Kitted out with a private interview room, work stations and a satellite that links it up to Warrington Borough Council’s IT system it means that residents can find out straight away what help they could be getting.

Adrian Webster, the council’s benefit manager, said: “By taking the benefits service out into the community we aim to increase benefit take-up by local residents.

“Sadly, many people aren’t claiming housing or council tax benefits and they are missing out on education grants. Either they don’t know they’re entitled to them or they’re put off by the prospect of red tape and form filling. We want to ensure that they don’t lose out.”

Climb on board the benefits bus, which will be at Warrington Market from today, Tuesday until this Friday.