Speedy payers

Oldham Council has speeded up how it deals with benefit claims and bill payments.

Out of 13 neighbouring authorities, Oldham is third best in terms of the time it takes new claims for housing and council tax benefits to be processed, compared with next to bottom in 2007.

The council has also risen from 10th to third in the speed in which changes in residents’ circumstances are processed.

Councillor Jackie Stanton, deputy leader and cabinet member for customer services and unity partnership, said: “By working with Unity Partnership, the organisation responsible for providing our benefit service, the council has vastly improved the level of service offered to its citizens and the ability to get it right first time.”

The improved performance fits in with the ethos of the council’s credit crunch cabinet which was set up with the Oldham Partnership to help residents and companies which might be struggling in the current financial climate.

This year (2009-10), the authority is paying 92.7 per cent of parties it owes money to on time, up on 51.6 per cent in 2008-09 when new systems and procedures were first introduced.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “At this time some firms are surviving on cash flow alone and if we can help to ease the burden by paying bills within the agreed period we will try to do it.”

For all benefits inquiries call 0161-770 6633.