Benefit take-up group

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We are committed to tackling poverty and encouraging benefit take-up.

Much of the work currently being done in this context is progressed through partnership working and the Benefit Take-up Group is a good example of how effective this can be.

The aim of the group is to promote and encourage benefit take-up by East Ayrshire residents, by providing advice and information, through a range of community events or initiatives involving local people.

Members of the group have already taken part in the following:

• Older People's Conference
• Benefits open days
• Roadshow events in Dalmellington, Hurlford and Newmilns
• Benefits information for KULOC Group
• Irvine Valley Seniors' Forum
• New Carers' Information Day
• International Women’s Day

In 2009/2010, the organisations involved in the Benefit Take-up Group assisted people to claim benefits with a total annual value in excess of £8,150,000.

Due to the complexity of the benefits system, inability to access relevant information, or difficulties associated with the process of claiming, significant numbers of people fail to claim the benefits to which they would be entitled and many billions of pounds worth of benefits remain unclaimed each year.

It is always better to make the effort to find out, rather than to do nothing and run the risk of being one of the people who continue to miss out.

The group comprises of staff from the following organisations working in partnership. For further information, please contact:

• Department for Work and Pensions – Pension Service 0845 6060 265 (over 60s)
• East Ayrshire Carers' Centre 01563 571533
• East Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau 01563 544744
• East Ayrshire Energy Advice Service 01563 555224
• East Ayrshire Joint Team 01292 554571 (over 60s)
• Housing and Council Tax Benefit 01563 554400
• East Ayrshire Social Work Services (Financial Inclusion) 01563 576908

 

 

Contact Information