Council Tax help for Driffield Pensioners

The pensioner benefit help team have organised a further drop-in session at
Driffield library.   If you cannot get along then contact them on 0800 91 50 381.

Pensioners will be able to go along to the library at Cross Hill and a
member of the team will be able to advise them about claiming council tax
benefit and other welfare benefits.

The second of these drop-in sessions will be Monday, August 14 from
2pm to 4.30pm, following the successful visit on Monday 7th August.

The pensioner benefit help team has already helped nearly 1,500 pensioners
claim council tax benefit.

Martin Ruane, project manager, said: "As many as 3,000 pensioners in the
East Riding area may be entitled to help with their council tax or rent. If
you pay council tax and either receive Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit or
have savings or investments that are worth less than £16,000, then you
should call the pensioner benefit help team free on 0800 91 50 381.

"The call could save you hundreds of pounds.  On average, each pensioner we
have helped has been paid a lump sum of £700 and is now £15.45 better off
each week "

This new service from East Riding of Yorkshire Council means that customers
do not have any long forms to complete.

Mr Ruane added: "A member of the team will visit you at your home when it
is convenient for you.  You will not have to wait long to find out if you
will get any help."

The council is using new wireless technology that enables the whole process
to be carried out during the visit. Customers are told during the visit how
much help they will get.

Cllr Felicity Temple urged:  "This is Government money that is better off in our local Pensioners pockets than in the Governments!  There is no question of charity here, it is a right under the new regulations.  If our local residents can save themselves £15 per week then they can better cope with other rising costs they have to face such as energy.

Cllr Symon Fraser agreed: "We urge residents to contact the helpline - if you have less than £16,000 saved up you could well be entitled to a back-dated rebate as well as a saving on your Council Tax every week."