Councillors approve £153,645 from Highland Council Welfare Fund to provide advice services

 

HIGHLAND Council Resources Committee has approved the allocation of £153,645 from the Council’s £1 million Welfare Fund to provide advice services.

Two proposals have been approved. £90,000 has been allocated to roll out a midwifery project to provide welfare and money advice to expectant mothers through the CABs in Highland.

The second project aims to identify and support those under-claiming benefits. The use £63,645 from the Welfare Fund will enable two 12 month posts in the income maximisation team who can support around 1000 claimants who may be entitled to additional benefits.

Chair of Resources Committee, Cllr Maxine Smith said: “We are also working to support other vulnerable groups particularly affected by welfare reform, including vulnerable tenants, people with disabilities and long term conditions.  Even simple solutions, like co-location of advice staff with other services such as Job Centres can help enormously.

She went on to say: “It is also extremely important that we identify how to support digital inclusion.  With the world becoming increasingly digitalised, we must work hard to ensure that everyone has access and confidence to use digital technology.”

25 Feb 2015