Our main function is to administer claims for Housing and Council Tax benefit for residents within the borough.
Housing Benefit is available to people on low income who are renting their homes to help them afford to pay the rent.
Council tax benefit is available for those on low incomes where council tax is payable on a domestic dwelling.
The Benefit Services aim is:
”To deliver high quality services that are customer focused and give value for money”
In order to achieve this aim we provide a number of services to ensure residents within the borough have easy access to the benefits that are available to them, such as:
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Housing benefit claims administration, for both private sector and council tenants on low incomes,
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Council tax benefit claim administration for customers on low incomes
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Benefit Fraud investigations
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Home visits providing benefits assistance and advice to customers in their own home
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Fast-track service where claims can be processed within 2 days (if all supporting evidence is attached)
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Benefit Take Up - promote take up of benefits through the benefit take up strategy and ensuring the residents of Dudley receive the benefits to which they are rightfully entitled
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An Appeals service where customers can appeal if they think there benefit decision is wrong
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Free School Meals administration where qualifying children attending school within the borough can receive free school meals
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Access to speak to one of our trained benefits staff, either face to face in our Benefits Enquiry Counter, or via telephone at our Benefits Call Centre
In order to continue to meet our aims we must invest in the development of our staff, ensure that the service is adequately resourced, listen and respond to customer and stakeholder feedback, and identify the most effective processes and systems to provide the best level of service.
