Home Local News Cty Councillor for Community Safety Supports “benefits check” campaign for over 75’s

Cty Councillor for Community Safety Supports “benefits check” campaign for over 75’s

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cllr gibson
Photo: Cllr Julie Gibson

County Cllr for Skelmersdale West Julie Gibson has backed the “benefits check” campaign being launched by the County Council’s Welfare Rights Unit in partnership with West Lancs Borough Council (WLBC).  Just under 2500 over 75’s who receive some help towards their rent or Council Tax payments have been identified and will soon start to receive letters advising them of help they may be entitled to.

Cllr Gibson said, “From this week elderly residents who have been identified by WLBC will receive a letter and a flyer in the post inviting them to fill in the tear off coupon and send it back to Lancashire Welfare Rights for a benefits check. The team will be working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions visiting service to make sure we help as many people as we can to get the help they need. I would urge all those who receive a form to fill it in and send it back.”

Similar take-up campaigns across Preston City Council and Lancaster City Council have generated an extra £985,000 per year in income for residents who replied to the letters.  Feedback from people who have replied to the mail shot has shown that many would never have sought any other help as they thought they were getting their full entitlement and just had to struggle to manage.

Cllr Gibson said: “Before I joined the County Council I participated in a number of these campaigns when I worked in the Merseyside Voluntary Sector.  The benefit they bring, not just in monetary value, to residents and local communities is vital to improving the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable residents.

Cllr Gibson concluded:  “I’d just like to reassure residents that this is a genuine campaign aimed at ensuring they are getting everything they are entitled to.  It’s possible that there are many elderly residents not receiving their full entitlement; the aim of the campaign is to make sure that they do.”

For further information contact:

Julie Gibson 07876 844276

Lancashire Welfare rights www.lancashire.gov.uk/benefits-and-grants

01772 538809

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