Get the benefit - campaign targets Rochdale borough

Thousands of people across Rochdale borough could be losing out on millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits to which they are entitled. So Rochdale Council is backing a Greater Manchester-wide campaign aimed at encouraging more people to claim Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit. The 'Get the Benefit' campaign is targeting the 12,000-plus people in the borough who it is thought, are not applying for cash they are entitled to, either because they didn't know how to claim it or thought that their income was too high to bother.

Along with the Council, the Government is keen to see the campaign succeed as they reckon around £1 billion of the benefits goes unclaimed nationally. Polling group MORI carried out detailed research last year among people who could be entitled to the benefits, in order to learn more about why some people fail to apply for money which is theirs by right.

They found that although most people were aware that Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit were available, around a quarter said they didn't know where to go to make a claim, and most thought it would be too difficult or too much trouble to do so.

Older people had negative impressions about claiming benefits. Most people said they would prefer some help with making a claim, understanding what is available and completing the necessary forms.

Benefits staff hope to raise awareness of the benefits and will be sending information by post to around 75,000 homes across the areas urging people who may be eligible to call a help centre.

They hope to then spot those most likely to be successful and help them through the claim process.

If you would like more information on the benefits, please call one of the telephone numbers below.

For Housing Benefit, please phone (01706) 866657.

For Council Tax Benefit please call the number that deals with your area:

Heywood: (01706) 866171
Middleton: (01706) 866176
Pennines: (01706) 866174
Rochdale North: (01706) 866175
Rochdale South: (01706) 866172