Sandwell Council’s welfare rights team has helped vulnerable residents to claim over £107 million worth of benefits over the past six years that would otherwise have gone unclaimed.
The local economy is also being boosted by the claims, with a high percentage of the money being spent on local goods and services.
The welfare rights team, which dealt with nearly 9,000 enquiries in 2008/9, has an open door service, with advisors based in Sandwell Homes’ neighbourhood offices across the six towns.
Neil Cox, welfare rights team manager, said: “The economic downturn means Sandwell …