Feeling the benefits

FEELING the pinch as the credit crisis starts to crunch?

Did you know that you could be one of the many people who are entitled to council tax and housing benefits without even knowing it?

Warrington Borough Council estimates that there is around £1.5 million worth of benefits available to households across the town that goes unclaimed.

Adrian Webster, the council’s benefits manager, said: “Warrington has a much lower take up (of benefits) than St Helens and Wigan. I think there is a certain amount of people not knowing there are benefits there.”

“Getting more people to claim benefits available to them is an uphill struggle, especially because Warrington is seen as a more prosperous town than neighbouring boroughs. It also could be that lots of people who are in work but on a low income do not realise they could claim too.

“I think there’s a stigma certainly with the older generation,” added Mr Webster, “they do not like claiming. People may be scraping by and they do not think they are entitled to benefits.”

But the council is using hi-tech equipment to help reach a wider audience thanks to a benefits bus that can be parked anywhere in town and anyone can pop in to see what they can claim.

Last week the bus parked up for a third stint outside Warrington Market and was inundated with inquiries.

On board officers can check whether residents are eligible for council tax and housing benefits, as well as offering advice on a whole host of other features available such as carers and disability allowance.

One of the team’s biggest success stories was helping a couple not only cut their bills through housing and council tax benefits but also finding them allowances and pension credits they were able to claim to boost their weekly income.

Because of these changes they found themselves nearly £10,000 a year better off.

Mike Andrews, take up officer, said: “She said she was going to book a holiday to Tenerife and said it was the first time she could book a holiday and not worry about the money.”

To find out whether you could claim extra benefits and save yourself money visit the Contact Centre on Horsemarket Street, the benefits bus or call 443322.

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