Welfare Rights Service Update
This is the second service update we have circulated to keep you informed of our work and any developments that may impact on you and your customers.
In the document which can be downlaoded here https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/89023969/WRS%20update%20May%2016.pdf
we have looked at our achievements over the last 12 months, and despite a reduction in staffing throughout the year we have had some fantastic outcomes. This not only represents the hard work of staff but also shows the continued high demand for help with benefit problems.
I've no doubt your services and staff are similarly struggling to cope with the day to day demands, and we are all trying to find ways to work as efficiently as possible whilst trying to help people to become more self-sufficient or resilient. As a specialist service we do focus on benefit issues, however many customers have complex problems that can't be resolved solely by sorting out their benefit problems. We are therefore always looking at other services across Lancashire that may be able to assist customers with other matters like managing a budget, dealing with debts, developing skills/confidence etc. If you think your service may be of use to our customers then please do get in touch with some information. Similarly if you are aware of any other services who are supporting people to improve their lives, whether it's about finances, healthy lifestyles, improved home environments, training or education etc. then please pass on the details – between us we really can make a big difference to residents lives.
Included in the update is a brief mention of some recent benefit changes that we have seen are already impacting on our customers, or that we are receiving enquiries about. If you see anything that you think you would like a lot more information on as it may impact on your work area, then please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
For those of you who received the last bulletin, you may remember that we were intending to run some benefit briefing sessions in particular focussing on Personal Independence Payment and asked that anyone interested get in touch with me. Unfortunately there was very little response and so we didn't proceed. We are looking again at what we can do to support any services or individuals who work with people on benefits or provide advice on benefits, as we continue to try to manage the very high demand for benefits advice. If you or your colleagues think we could work better together, or would benefit from specific benefits information, then please let me know as we do want to strengthen the help available to benefit claimant's across Lancashire and are open to any ideas you may have.
Please feel free to circulate this information with your colleagues and other organisations you feel it may be of use to.
Thank you.
Joanne Barker
Service Manager
Welfare Rights Service & Care and Urgent Needs Support Scheme
Health Equity, Welfare & Partnerships
Public Health and Wellbeing
Lancashire County Council
Room B58 | County Hall | Preston | PR1 0LD
Tel: 0300 123 6739
Email: prestonwrs@lancashire.gov.uk
Web: www.lancashire.gov.uk/benefits-and-grants
Worried about changes in someone's memory or behaviour? Visit lancashire.gov.uk/dementia for information, advice and support.
No comments:
Post a Comment