More residents than ever make a claim online

Over a thousand local residents have made a benefit claim online since a new system was brought in earlier this year.

Rochdale Borough Council launched a web-based application in March to enable local people to check whether they’re entitled to help with paying their council tax or rent – and then make a benefit claim online.

The service - at www.rochdale.gov.uk/benefits - can calculate whether you’re entitled to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and, if so, estimate how much. You can make a claim online and will just need to sign a declaration form and pop it in the post or drop it off at your local council customer service centre with any evidence of identity, income, savings and rent.

New figures released show 515 claims have been made using the online system through the council’s customer service centres across the borough – and 528 users have put in a claim on their own via the council website.

The whole process takes between 20 minutes and an hour to complete, depending on your circumstances. You can then print and complete a declaration form or request one to be sent out in the post.

The online claims system is available to anyone not already getting Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. It speeds up the process by only asking relevant questions – so, unlike a paper application form, if you say you live alone in your own home it won’t ask about children or other adults living there or for information about rent.

If you don’t have internet access at home, staff at council customer service centres across the borough can guide you through the application process. You can also visit one of the borough’s libraries to use the internet for free and access the online claim system.

Councillor Liz Thirsk, cabinet member for townships and corporate management on Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is part of our drive to make more council services easier to access and help cut waiting times at our customer service centres. If you’ve got internet access this is a simple way to find out if you’re eligible for benefits and to make a claim – you can also get on the system free at any library in the borough.”

Councillor Thirsk added: “You’ll need to provide evidence to prove any information you give about your income or finances, and the system includes checks to ensure that only those people rightfully entitled to benefits are given them.”