Page last updated at 15:43 GMT, Friday, February 3 2012

Council provides efficient benefit service

Borough residents receive one of the most efficient services in the country when it comes to processing and updating information about change of circumstances for benefit claimants ensuring residents receive their correct benefits quicker.

The second quarter statistics from the Government’s Department of Work and Pensions  placed Eastleigh as the second best Council in the country out of 380 authorities for processing change of circumstances with an average of 3 days the best being 2 days and the worst being 49 days processing information. 

The Council was also placed 33rd out of 380 authorities in the country for processing new claims with an average of 14 days the best being 4 days and the worst being 69 days.

The Council was also well placed in Hampshire being joint first for processing change of circumstances claims and second in processing new claims.

Cabinet Lead for Housing & Customer Service Councillor Anne Winstanley said “This is great news for our residents. By running an efficient service and updating information quickly we can ensure that the correct benefit payments are made quicker. Bearing in mind that we process benefit claims for considerably less per claim than all other Hampshire authorities this is a great achievement”