Families in Swansea have been taking advantage of a dedicated phoneline and finding recent rule changes mean they could get help towards their Council Tax.
National changes mean Child Benefit and Child Maintenance are now ignored in calculations of income.
This can dramatically improve the entitlement of some families to Council Tax, Benefits and Housing Benefits- particularly families with more than one child.
It has meant some local families who have called Swansea Council’s Benefit Take-Up team found that in the past they would not qualify at all but now they qualify for nearly their full bill to be paid for them.
The Local Authority now fears there are still many more people who are missing out on financial help.
Swansea Council’s dedicated Benefit Take-Up team is urging people to contact them for a calculation.
Benefit Take-Up Manager Paula Lewis said: “Families in Swansea have taken advantage of the dedicated telephone line to the Benefits Take-Up team for a calculation to see if the recent changes have resulted in them being entitled to Council Tax Benefit.
“There are still many people in Swansea, however, who have not contacted us for a calculation.
“Surely it would be nice to get a helping hand with the household finances this Christmas and New Year and we’re here to help if we can. I would urge people to ring to find out as they may be missing out.
“An entitlement calculation can be done in minutes over the telephone.”
Contact the Benefit Take-Up Team on 01792 635885.
