Council inaction means no extra benefit to people on low income
At full Council on 17 March 2025, Green Cllr Amanda Onwuemene said:
In December 2023, the Green Party Motion: Maximising Income from Benefits and Allowances to help Alleviate Poverty in Wirral, was unanimously passed by all parties.
At that time circa £91 million worth of benefits remained unclaimed by residents on the Wirral. It is now 15 months since we voted to maximise the incomes of our residents on benefits.
A report presented to Policy & Resources committee in September 2024 resolved to appoint Policy in Practice Ltd to work with the Household Support Fund Team to deliver a series of benefit take up initiatives.
In monetary terms, by how much, has the income of people on benefits on the Wirral been maximised due to the actions of the Council in this matter?
Cllr Paul Stuart:
This project is still progressing. File transfers have taken place to Policy and Practice following the Council’s secure and approval from the DWP regarding the sharing of data.
There has been a delay in progressing the objectives of the exercise with Policy and Practice following the departure of the Head of Revenue and Benefits and the Council is currently in the process of agreeing a date for the launch of the initiative.
Cllr Onwuemene – Does that mean ‘nothing’?
Cllr Stuart: Madam Mayor, I have given my answer.