‘Benefits Day’ was great success for pensioners

A focused Benefits Day helped pensioners within Wealden claim and receive funding and benefits.

The event, on 31 August, was hosted at Wealden District Council offices’ reception in Vicarage Lane between 9am-5pm with officers on hand to assist eligible residents make applications for the Household Support Fund, Council Tax Energy Rebate and Discretionary Energy Rebate.  

The day was a great success with all appointments fully booked - a total of 21 applications were submitted for the Household Support Fund, four applications for the Council Tax Energy Rebate (bands A-D) and three applications for the Discretionary Energy Rebate (bands E-H). It was also identified that several customers were entitled to claim Council Tax reductions too.

Wealden council is proud to be able to have provided an all-round service to the residents to claim financial help. All residents who applied for the schemes have already received payment.

Wealden council’s portfolio holder for Finance and Benefits Councillor Neil Waller, said “This was the first Benefits Day we have held for these schemes and we had a full day of appointments. We received such positive feedback from residents and they were very grateful for the advice and additional money they didn’t realise they were entitled to.

“I am very pleased we were able to offer this service and we hope to be running another event in the next few months.”

Residents are still entitled to the funding and can check by going online to https://www.wealden.gov.uk/ and clicking on ‘benefits’ to check their eligibility, or call the benefits team on 01323 443500