Give feedback on this pageLatest figures show how advice workers in Denbighshire have helped thousands of local people gain a total of £65 million in extra social security benefits and tax credits over the past 12 years. The figures for the year April 2007 to April 2008 amount to £6.5 million.
Councillor Pauline Dobb, Cabinet Lead Member for Health, Social Care and Well-being, said “This extra money is good news for local people, the council and the local economy. Questionnaires returned from people who used the service showed how it improved their quality of life, health and reduced their need to see a doctor. Securing extra income for local people also helps them to pay their council tax and rent. More claims for benefits like Pension Guarantee Credit can lead to a larger grant to the council from the Assembly. Also, if the extra millions were spent on local goods and services many jobs will have been created over the 12 years.”
“These results reflect the dedicated work of staff in the Council’s Welfare Rights Unit, Rhyl Benefits Advice Shop and Denbighshire’s Citizens Advice Bureau.”
Recent Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show that between £6 billion to £10 billion worth of social security benefits went unclaimed in Great Britain during 2006/2007. The benefits involved were Pension Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based). For Denbighshire this means that as much as £16m goes unclaimed each year in just 5 benefits which do not include benefits for disability and industrial injuries. This means there is more work to be done by these advice services.
Denbighshire residents who want independent advice or help with benefit and tax credit claims, disputes and appeals can contact the Council’s Welfare Rights Helpline on Freephone 0800 1696625 on weekdays between 10am and 4pm. All calls are free and confidential.