Less than a year after Labour councillors called for help for claimants not getting the unclaimed £37 million they are due, Falkirk Council is to step up efforts to make sure they do.
A new plan has been produced setting out a strategy that will boost existing measures, especially in communities that don’t have easy access to advice.
Labour group leader Councillor Anne Hannah, seconded by Councillor Siobhan Paterson, called for the report at an Executive meeting in June last year. It came up at the Executive
Councillor Hannah said: “The work of our staff and third sector organisations is vital in maximising incomes. Thousands of people in this area are not claiming benefits they are legally entitled to. Around £37 million is unclaimed by people in the Falkirk Council area each year.”
Figures show:
- 1 in 3 people entitled to pension credit don’t get it
- 1 in 3 people entitled to universal credit don’t get it
- 1 in 4 children live in poverty
- 1 in 4 parents say they worry about feeding their families
- and although there are no firm figures for disability benefit take-up, the number of those missing out is extremely high
Councillor Hannah added: “Rich people are not slow to claim tax allowances and tax reliefs, so why do ordinary people on low and average incomes fail to claim what is rightfully theirs?”
The extra funds agreed at the Executive for advice services and other support will help people overcome these barriers.
- People often do not know they are entitled to benefits – Advice Services will promote information about what is available.
- Checking entitlement and claiming is complicated. Advice Services can help people understand and negotiate the process.
- Many people are ashamed to be claiming – Advice Services can help overcome this by explaining benefits are a legal entitlement.
- Many people are refused benefits they are legally entitled to or are underpaid. There are also often delays in decision making. Fewer than half pension credit claims lodged between April and August 2022 were processed by October that year. Scottish Disability Payment decisions can take up to six months. Advice Services can help overcome these delays by making sure the right information is provided in the first place.
Councillor Hannah went on: “Analysis of the results of Falkirk Council staff’s advice work shows that for every £1 spent promoting information and advice £13 is brought into
“And research from the Fraser of Allander Institute shows that for every additional £1 awarded in benefits around £4 of income is generated in the local economy – generating more income for businesses in the area.
“So for all the people worrying about paying their rent, mortgage, fuel bills; just about managing to pay bills, maybe by skipping meals, avoiding trips to see friends and family or giving up other things to save money; who are missing meals so they can feed their children: worried if they can replace children’s shoes, clothes, buy a birthday present or have a holiday; we are really pleased we brought forward this strategy.
“We look forward to six-monthly reports on how effective the services have been and how much extra income has been generated for hard-pressed people.”
Councillor Hannah thanked officers for their hard work in bringing forward the report. She said: “Under the present cost-of-living crisis the demand for advice is high, so it is impressive that council officers have managed to bring forward this plan which is likely to promote even more work for themselves.”
The report was brought to the Executive on 11 April. In the spirit of collaboration, Councillor Meiklejohn (SNP administration leader) proposed the motion to adopt the report’s recommendations and Councillor Hannah Labour Group leader seconded the motion.