Neath Port Talbot residents have benefited by £4.2million thanks to the Welfare Rights Unit at the Council.
The team has been working tirelessly over the last year to make sure that people take up their full entitlement of benefits.
Claims for Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance have been particularly successful as have claims for Disability Living Allowance.
Excellent results have also been achieved for tax credits for children and help for people who have been diagnosed with cancer.
The team carries out day to day caseloads which includes training and debt advice and can give talks to community groups.
People can be seen in their own home or out in communities if need be or advice can be given over the telephone.
An important part of their work is to represent people at appeals and over 400 people have been supported over to date.
Projects run by Welfare Rights are funded by a number of partners such as the Welsh Assembly Government, Communities First, Macmillan Cancer Care, Scottish Power, the Legal Services Commission and Mencap.
All the casework is done to the standard of the Specialist Quality Mark of the Community Legal Service.
Council Leader, Ali Thomas, said, “It is rewarding to see that so many people on low incomes have benefited from extra money in their pockets.
“Working with children and families to combat child poverty and pensioner poverty has meant a better quality of life for people living in Neath Port Talbot.
“Residents spend their money locally so it also means extra custom for local businesses.
“The Welfare Rights Unit has used the resources provided by the Council and built on it to attract extra funding to work to maximise residents’ income.
“The work of the Welfare Rights team led by Jackie Hankins is exemplary and I wish, on behalf of the citizens of the County Borough and indeed all my colleagues in the Council, to express our gratitude to them for their commitment and dedication.”
