RESIDENTS URGED TO ANSWER BENEFITS CALL
STRUGGLING Dromore residents were this week urged to make use of a new outreach scheme aimed at throwing light on housing benefits.
The call came from Lagan Valley MLA Basil McCrea, as he welcomed what he called "a decision by the Land and Property Service to begin a new informative programme for Dromore residents".
The new programme, he said, was aimed at making residents aware of their entitlement to rate relief, postponement, and housing benefit. "This is a very important new initiative," said the Ulster Unionist, "especially for the elderly and disabled members of the community.
"There are many on lower incomes who struggle to meet these costs and, without knowing, could be paying more than they ought."
Mr. McCrea said that over the next few weeks, as part of the new programme, the Land and Property Service should be directly contacting many of those facing such difficulties to see if they should be availing of benefits.
"However," he added, "there are many more people, who are entitled to help, that the Land and Property Service is not aware of.
"I would urge anyone who is on a lower income to contact them immediately by telephoning 101, or visiting http://www.nidirect.gov.uk
"The Land and Property Service also now has a full-time outreach officer who will be available to speak to community groups, signposters and community leaders, to help them give guidance to those in need.
"If any community group in the area would like to take up on this assistance, a talk on rate relief and the processes and procedures involved can be arranged with the outreach officer by calling Lenny Peden on 028 90 543877, or Stuart Young on 028 90 543897. "Alternatively they can be contacted by post - Based Rate Relief, Take-Up Team, Ground Floor, Queen's Court, Upper Queen's Street, Belfast, BT1 6FD."
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
