20 AUGUST 2007: RIPON residents who were missing
out on benefits they were entitled to now have more money in their
pockets following a special event held recently in the
city. In total a further £200,000 is being
paid out to people who didn't know they were entitled to increased
benefit.
Staff from Harrogate Borough Council's Benefits Service and
North Yorkshire County Council's Social Care and Supporting People
Team, were joined by colleagues from the Pension Service at a two
day drop in session at Sunnyfield Lodge, the new extra care scheme
in Ripon.
The event was part of a planned programme of joint working to
make it easier for people to understand a very complicated benefit
system.
Councillor Andrew Jones, Harrogate Borough Council's Cabinet
Member for Resources, said: "We take every
opportunity we can to urge people to contact us if they are finding
it difficult to make ends meet. Often, people
struggle along living on a low income but either are too proud to
ask or are not aware of the help they can
get.
"We hope to hold more of these drop in sessions where staff
from more than one agency can be on hand to give essential
professional advice and assistance. They can
take a lot of the worry away by making sure paperwork is completed
on the day. The two days were a great success
and everyone was pleased with the outcome. This
extra money will make a huge difference to these people's
lives." ENDS
Housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit are means tested
benefits, for which people have to claims.
Savings or investments must be less than
£16,000. Our website at
www.harrogate.gov.uk/benefits contains an easy to use on line
calculator to find out about likely entitlement.
Claims may be made through the website.
Enquiries about these benefits can be made by phone 01423 55
64 55, by email ben_rev@harrogate.gov.uk or by visit to Scottsdale
House, Springfield Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 2SD.
Annually £25 million is expended on these benefits in
the Harrogate District, paid for by Central
Government.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Councillor
Andrew Jones is available for comment on 07720
717463. Further technical information is
available from John Murray, Benefit Services Manager, on 01423
556405.