Benefit Take Up Campaign Launch

With effect from 1st November 2009, Child Benefit will no longer be counted as income, when calculating Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit. This will mean that many families who have narrowly missed out on these benefits in the past, will now qualify for help with their Rent and Council Tax.

Councils are keen to raise awareness of this change and to encourage applications from families who are possibly now entitled to help through the Housing and Council Tax Benefit schemes. This as a massive opportunity to get additional financial help to as many families as possible.

Posters and leaflets have been produced and circulated to local libraries, health centres, community centres, CIS offices etc. Councils are also hoping to promote the campaign through the local media .

As part of West Lothian's take-up strategy, the Bathgate Advice Shop will open to the public from 10.00 am till 2.00 pm every Saturday in November. Staff from take-up team will; be on hand to help people complete applications and offer expert advice on Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit. Advice Shop staff will also look at potential entitlement to further help through other state benefits and tax credits.

Families who are already receiving Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit at the moment do not need to do anything else at the moment, as we will automatically recalculate their entitlement and award any additional benefit that they are entitled to. Using existing records, Councils should also been able to identify customers who recently applied unsuccessfully for benefit, but will now qualify for some help under the new rules. These customers should also have their benefit entitlement recaculated automatically.

Hopefully local press and other media will let the public know about these changes and support the Councils in their information campaign.

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