TENANTS have been helped to claim an extra £650,000 by a specialist team set up by their social landlord.

Not-for-profit provider Four Housing created its financial inclusion team last year to support tenants in the Durham area with money management.

Since then, more than 700 people have been helped to get additional benefits and retain income from the welfare system.

The six-strong team provides money advice to residents and has taken more than 340 calls to the financial inclusion helpline.

It is currently working on more than 20 appeals against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and local authorities.

When the under-occupancy charge, or ‘bedroom tax’, was introduced in April 2013, Four Housing anticipated that about 800 of its working-age tenants would be affected, which equates to almost 20 per cent of all customers.

Sandra Wyper, Four Housing’s Financial Inclusion Officer, said: “Welfare reform presents a number of challenges.

“For many the changes can be confusing and reductions in benefits resulting from the government’s under-occupancy charge, or ‘bedroom tax’, have led to a number of our customers struggling to pay their rent and other bills.

“Impending Universal Credit will bring about further challenges as residents will receive a number of benefit payments directly and must manage their finances to ensure sufficient funds are available to pay rent.

“We are currently working with all of our customers who are affected to prepare them for these changes.”

For more information visit www.fourhousing.co.uk