THE council has pinned its slow processing speed for Housing Benefit claims on it being a 'busy time.' 

New figures revealed that it took Westmorland and Furness Council an average of 30 days to process Housing Benefit claims in the first quarter of this year (January to March). The English average is 19. 

The total number of processing days for the council was 6,080, and the total number of cases was 201. 

Housing Benefit helps tenants pay rent if they are unemployed, on a low income or claiming other benefits. The payments will eventually be completely rationalised under Universal Credit, which functions as a single means-tested benefit. However, according to the figures there were still 102,255 cases across Great Britain.

Slow housing benefit payment can lead to rent arrears, debt accumulation, increased pressure on social services and even homelessness.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: “As a council which is less than eighteen months old, we are committed to improving and harmonising all of our processes across the three legacy sites and systems, including those for administering housing benefit.

"This is a huge undertaking which requires robust and careful planning to ensure that our services are all delivered in the same way, and to the same consistent standard, across the whole of the authority area.

“The period between January and March is an inherently busy time for a council due to annual billing and year end which unfortunately can also affect processing times. We are working toward improving the rate of processing as the year progresses.”

Neighbouring Cumberland Council took an average of 25 days to process benefit claims. 

Hundreds of people in Westmorland and Furness have lost their benefits in the switch to Universal Credit since July 2022 and March this year. 

Other Department for Work and Pensions figures show around 2,950 migrations notices were submitted to those receiving Housing Benefit, and other benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance and Child Tax Credit. 

Of these notices, approximately 1,200 cases were closed - resulting in someone losing their benefits. 

In the region, around four per cent of people sent a migration notice are yet to transfer to Universal Credit.

Those who did not voluntarily transfer to Universal Credit and receive less than their previous benefit support are provided with financial protection.