Arun residents benefit from fast claim times (From The Argus)

Arun residents benefit from fast claim times

8:45am Monday 6th August 2012 in News

A council benefits team deals with new claims for help faster than any other authority in West Sussex.
 

Arun District Council received almost 2,000 new applications between April and June for council tax and housing benefits and more than 11,000 additional changes to exisiting claims.
 

Benefit processing times for both claims and changes in customer’s circumstances have been reduced to an average of 5.5 days.  
 

The average turnaround time for the same period last year was 18.8 days.
 

The success is down to staff dealing with customer’s queries at their first point of contact with the council and by introducing another desk to the main reception area in the Civic Centre in Littlehampton.
 

Coun Norman Dingemans, cabinet member responsible for benefits, said: "I would like to congratulate and thank all the staff involved in this great result.
 

"For Arun residents who claim benefits this means that they can expect a better service from the council in providing them with the help they need.
 

“Two of our new priorities for the council to focus on delivering the very best customer service that we can and being there to help and support people when they need it, which makes these benefit turnaround times very important.”