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Welfare Rights Team - Annual Report 2023/2024

Welfare Rights Team - Annual Report 2023/24 - Income generated via advice and representation

We generated £8.5m in additional income for Perth and Kinross residents through the benefits system.  This figure comprises Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland (SSS) benefits, Council Tax Reduction and Council Tax discounts, exemptions and disregards where we have provided advice.

This figure does not include the income we generated via our involvement with Financial Insecurity Fund payments, Crisis Grants, Community Care Grants and Discretionary Housing Payments.

This is a 31% increase on last financial year when we generated £6.5m in benefit gains.

£8.5m in benefit gains and 8,022 referrals is an average household benefit gain of £1,060.

The total amount of benefit gains as a direct result of representation at appeal was £681k (this figure does not include any further benefit entitlement that may be awarded in addition to the benefits paid following successful appeal).

What are benefit gains?

The benefit gains that we report are only a proportion of the actual benefits that we identify missing from household incomes throughout the year and this is because we only report on "verified" benefit gains that is, benefits that clients confirm have actually been paid to them. 

We aim to provide a true a reflection of the impact we have had on households that is auditable and stands up to scrutiny.  Therefore, any benefit gains we publish are under-reported and this is because we concentrate our efforts on meeting demand and targeting resources at those most in need.

Many households are able to follow through on our advice without further assistance and many clients disengage once their situation is resolved to a level that they find sufficient.

The benefit gains that we have reported are in respect of 1,056 households.  This means that there were 2,762 households that have either not yet had decisions made on their benefit claims or we have not been able to engage with them to establish whether or not claims were successful.

Our Welfare Rights Team - Facts and Figures page has information on income generated via advice and representation for previous years.

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