Welfare and benefits advice services in Northumberland get funding boost

Northumberland welfare and benefits advice services are going to receive a funding boost from the County Council, to ensure people can receive the help they need.

This follows a Health Needs Assessment (HNA) carried out last year which found the services had given advice to 22,582 clients in 2019/20 and helped 53,729 people with individual issues.

Northumberland County Council has decided to increase its funding to the Citizens Advice Bureau, which provides the free advice, since demand has been so high around 50% of calls go unanswered.

Investment will increase from £420,000 to £520,000 per year from October 2022 when a new contract is expected to begin.

Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council said: ‘Considering all the evidence highlighted in the Health Needs Assessment, the decision has been made to increase funding to enable better provision of advice services in Northumberland.

‘Tackling inequalities in Northumberland is one of our top three priorities so this will place more resources to help make a difference to those who most need our help.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic and the current rise in the cost of living, including food, fuel and energy bills, have led to an increase in the need for the services provided. We are working hard to ensure all our residents are supported and receiving all the help they are entitled to and providing advice is a key part of this.

‘We will closely monitor the demand on the service to identify any ongoing unmet need in the future, and we will work with the NHS and our other partners to secure additional investment.’

According to data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the total value of unclaimed benefits in Northumberland could be as much as £31.8m per year.

Liz Morgan, Director of Public Health at Northumberland County Council said: ‘We want to make sure that people in Northumberland claim the benefits that they are legally entitled to.  Too many people are trying to make do on too low an income and we know there is a strong link between low income and poorer health for many reasons and that this will be widening the inequalities which already exist within the county. 

‘By commissioning an advice service to provide benefits advice, we can improve health both directly and indirectly. This sort of service has been shown to lower stress and anxiety, improve mental health, and lead to better sleeping patterns, more effective use of medications, smoking cessation, and improved diet and physical activity.’

Photo by Guy Downes