Get on the bus - and get what you're entitled to!

Mobile Advice Centre

People across the Rochdale borough will be able to find out what financial help they could be missing out on when the Benefits Bus makes some special stops next month.

A mobile advice centre will be pulling up at five venues to give people the chance to talk to experts who can help explain what benefits are available from Rochdale Council, as well as from the government or other agencies.

The bus is fully equipped with office facilities and interview booths. Revenues amp; Benefits officers will be on board to answer queries from members of the public on benefits including pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, free school meals and secondary school uniform vouchers.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor William Hobhouse said: "By taking the advice service out into the community we're hoping to increase benefit take-up. Many people aren't claiming what they're entitled to at the moment, either because they don't know what's available - or because they're put off by the idea of filling out a form.

"We hope to make the process as simple as possible for them and ensure that they don't lose out."

The mobile advice centre was bought through a joint-funding bid and is shared between the 13 local authorities in and around Greater Manchester. A satellite link to Rochdale Council's IT system means that customers can have their benefit entitlement checked.

Where will the bus be?

• Monday 26 November             
  Hare Hill Park, Littleborough
• Tuesday 27 November           
  Focus DIY, Rochdale
• Wednesday 28 November          
  B&Q, Sandbrook Park, Rochdale
• Thursday 29 November         
  The Range, Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale
• Friday 30 November                
  Lidl, Heywood

Staff will be on hand each day between 10am and 3pm.

If you can't get to one of the places the bus will visit, you can still get benefits advice by calling Rochdale Council on 0845 121 2970, visiting one of the borough's customer service centres.