city's poorest residents gain £5 million

For the second year running CAB advisers helped some of the poorest residents in the city claim nearly £5 million worth of benefits they were entitled to but not receiving.

• £1.3 million went to residents living in the city’s poorest estate, Bentilee
• £2.2 million was claimed by people visiting the main bureau in Hanley
• £800,000 was received by people, suffering serious levels of ill health or disability who contacted our GPs Outreach service
• £500,000 was received by people following successful appeals against benefit refusals.

“The complexity of the benefits system and the difficulties many people have with forms and call centres means that, unfortunately, there are still thousands of people in the city not receiving the social security benefits they are entitled to.” said Chief Executive Simon Harris.

“The money that comes into the area from central government, via the benefits system, goes straight into the pockets of some of the poorest and most disadvantaged residents in the city. All the research on benefit take up suggests that that money is then spent in the local economy on essential items such as food, travel, and other essential household items.

“As food and fuel prices continue to rise people on low and fixed incomes are hit the hardest. It is therefore essential that those people unable to work due to ill health, disability, age or caring responsibilities are helped to claim their full entitlements.”