A new report presented to North Lanarkshire Council’s finance and resources committee showed that the finanical inclusion service helped people claim more than £35m, with the External Services team contributing almost £6m.
This work involves training council employees working in social work, housing services and the Macmillan Lanarkshire Service, which focuses on helping people affected by cancer, to help residents ensure they are in receipt of all benefits to which they are entitled.
“Given the poverty levels within North Lanarkshire, it is important that the council mobilises its resources to tackle poverty amongst service users and in the wider community,” noted Lizanne McMurrich, the council’s head of communities.
Welfare Rights officers also work with people to help them appeal against decisions. Officers represented claimants at over 1400 appeals in 2018-2019 and their success rate of 72 per cent is higher than the national average.
More than 13,000 people in North Lanarkshire currently claim Universal Credit and 26,000 others currently in receipt of other benefits will be moved to Universal Credit by 2023.
As a social landlord, helping people claim the correct benefits helps the council reduce rent arrears.
