More than £800,000 in benefits has been won for people in the Braintree district, it was announced this week.

A total of £813,028 has been awarded as a direct result of intervention by Braintree District Council's welfare rights service.

The amount of benefit gained per person has varied from just a few pounds a week to as much as £203 a week for one disabled couple.

In one case a severely disabled pensioner, referred by Social Services, was awarded arrears in benefits worth £15,000, plus a weekly benefit increase of £75.15.

Welfare rights co-ordinator, Gary Johnson, said: "The service has been building on the success of previous years.

''The level of benefit take-up indicates that there are large numbers of people underclaiming benefits.

"In the immediate future the welfare rights service will be encouraging pensioners to claim benefits under the minimum income guarantee scheme and working families, tax credit for low income families."

Council leader, John Gyford, said that the service had brought almost £3 million to the district since it was set up three years ago.

"The welfare rights service is a very valuable resource with a huge return in terms of community benefit."

It has been a busy year for the services with many changes in benefits legislation including a new appeals procedure and the working families tax credit.

The team has also produced a series of benefits factsheets, as well as working closely with the voluntary sector and statutory agencies.

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