A new benefits advice service is being established in Blakelaw, Fenham, Fawdon and Kenton to provide advice and information about radical changes to the welfare benefits system, it was disclosed this week.
A new Welfare Rights Officer will be based in the area to provide help and assistance to those residents affected by central government changes to the benefits system. An information leaflet is due to be delivered to every household across the four wards informing people of the changes as well as encouraging take-up of benefits such as DLA and Attendance Allowance for those entitled , but not claiming.
Coun. Stephen Lambert, Chair of the Kenton Committee, who helped to spearhead the initiative with his fellow Labour councillors, said: ‘’Hundreds of residents, many of whom are old folk and disabled are deeply anxious about the new changes being brought in by the Government. That’s why we’ve introduced a new service and information leaflet to make people fully aware of the changes. At present lots of vulnerable residents in the four wards are deeply confused about what’s going to happen and some are fearful they are going to lose out.’’
‘’The new service should help to alleviate their concerns. We must’nt forget that lots of people who have paid into the system all their lives are not getting the benefits they are legally entitled too such as council tax benefit, DLA and AA. We hope more people will come forward and claim what’s is legally theirs’’, he added.
According to a report presented by the Council’s Welfare Rights Service to a new steering group, more and more residents are finding it hard to make ends meet with unemployment, under-employment and cuts to benefits to low-paid working people as well as to many people with disabilities. Child poverty, it’s estimated, is set to rise as the Government’s 1 per cent benefit cap and cuts starts to bite from Spring this year.
The four wards directly affected have pooled some of their money to fund extra advice sessions and to maximise take-up to help household budgets and spending in local businesses. Blakelaw Parish Council has also agreed to help out.
Coun. Lambert, said : ‘’We’re particularly concerned to make sure that residents get the benefits to which they are entitled before ‘Universal Credit’ kicks in later in the year so they can get ‘transitional protection’.
Residents in the North-West of the city can get help by phoning The Welfare Rights Service on 0191 277 2627 or contacting the C.A.B. on 0191 229 2750