Direct Credit Those Postal Strike Delays Away
Don’t let the postal strikes affect receiving your
housing benefit payments, arrange a direct credit today. That’s the
message for Purbeck residents from the Council.
With the recent round of postal strikes and a
threat of future strike action Purbeck District Council is unable
to guarantee its residents that housing benefit cheques sent
through the post will arrive on time.
Not only does arranging payment of housing
benefit by direct credit ensure the money is paid in on time but it
also eliminates the chances of cheque fraud and reduces
administration costs.
In addition, arranging a direct credit now
will also help residents ahead of next year when new Local Housing
Allowance legislation is introduced in April which will result in
housing benefit being paid to the customer in the majority of cases
rather than to the landlord. As a result benefit customers
making a new application or changing address and who do not
currently have a bank account will need to open one before April
2008. This does not apply to Housing Association tenants.
Councillor Mike Lovell, Social Issues
spokesperson said: “8 out of 10 of our residents receiving housing
benefit already recognise the benefits of receiving their payments
by direct credit and with the current postal strikes the advantages
of doing it this way have never been greater”.
Contact:
For details on how to arrange a direct credit
contact the Council’s Benefits team on 01929 557240.
Links:
Visit the Benefits section of the
website for more information.