The aim of The Benefits Service Take-up Team is to actively develop long term plans to promote the take-up of benefits, address customer service availability and access, which, enables customers to make successful claims. The Benefits Service have recognised that there are many reasons why customers may not claim the benefit they are entitled to; such as, not being aware of the benefits available to them, struggling with the claims process, a wish to maintain independence, language, literacy and health issues or even just feeling uncomfortable in claiming.
We strive to maximise the payment of Benefits to those people who are entitled to claim and break down any barriers by simplifying the process. We want to raise general awareness & target specific groups. We believe a personalised approach to benefit take-up is more likely to have a positive effect. We hope to develop links with local groups and organisations; leading to customer referrals, information exchange and advice surgeries
To be entitled to Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit there are certain criteria and rules we have to take into account including the income you have coming into your household, details on the how to claim page. Council Tax Benefit is paid to your council tax account to assist with your council tax charges. Housing benefit is a payment of benefit towards your rent. If you are not entitled to council tax benefit because of your income but there are other adults living with you (not including your partner) who are on a low income and you are unable to claim a single person discount on your council tax bill then you may be entitled to a second adult rebate.
The Benefits Service welcomes enquiries Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm by telephone on 0161 253 5008 or in person at the Benefits Service, 7 Whittaker Street, Radcliffe, M26 2DT.
The Mobile Advice Centre will be in the following locations next week 10am until 3pm each day
- Monday 24 May 2010 - Tesco, Bury;
- Tuesday 25 May 2010 - Kay Gardens, Bury;
- Wednesday 26 May 2010 - Kay Gardens, Bury;
- Thursday 27 May 2010 - Woolfield/Woodhill area in partnership with Bury West Local Area Partnership;
- Friday 28 May 2010 - Kay Gardens, Bury.
The advice centre is fully accessible, with a ramp for disabled access.
No appointments are necessary.
The Benefits Service can also be contacted by email housingbenefits@bury.gov.uk.
We understand there are people who may need extra help making a claim. Appointments for home visits can be made for people who are unable to get to the Council's Offices, because of illness or disability or are unsure about claiming. Please ring to arrange an appointment. These visits are an ideal opportunity to offer and gather information to customers face-to-face in a familiar environment.
However, if you live in the area covered by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, want to find out how much benefit you could get and want to claim benefit straightaway please use the online benefit claim and calculator. If you do qualify you can then carry on and complete your claim, you will be guided through the process but can telephone for advice or help at any point.
Increasing Benefit Take-up is an ongoing challenge which we hope to continually review and improve by using a variety of imaginative and creative initiatives.
Council tax benefit ready reckoner 2010-2011.
Housing benefit ready reckoner 2010-2011.
The PDF version of our first edition of The Benefits Service Take-up Team Newsletter.
It aims to give you an insight into the work we do within the service and details some of our successes so far.
