Staff at Swan Housing are celebrating after gaining more than £1 million in benefit awards for their residents.

Swan introduced a welfare benefits scheme in 2003 to help residents in a range of services from a simple benefit entitlement check to representation at tribunals.
We understand that the benefit system is complex and therefore the scheme aims to assist residents who receive benefits in helping with advice and assessments.

Rita Ryan, aged 82, of Basildon, has been a resident of the Swan Group for more than ten years. She said:

“I can’t thank Swan enough for all they have done for me. My welfare benefits officers have helped me so much. I became very vulnerable through illness and felt helpless. They gave me so much support and advice and I felt really relieved.

Since it was introduced the welfare benefits advice service has been hugely successful with residents. Assistance has been achieved in housing and council tax benefit, pension credits, child benefit, job seekers allowance, sickness benefits, disability benefits and tax credits.

As a result of all the enquiries made and assistance given Swan have been able to gain an additional £1,040,205.50 in benefit awards for their residents since they started the scheme in 2003.

Swan Area Manager Paul Turner said: “Swan is extremely proud of how much we have helped our residents. We have had many positive comments on how pleased they have been with the assistance provided.”