INSPECTORS have handed an excellent rating to Stockton Borough Council's benefits service.
Last year, the team last year received an overall score from the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) of three, but this year has been graded a four - which is excellent.
The benefits service has now cut the number of days it takes to process new claims by almost half - from 61 days to 31 days, bettering the national standard required of 36 days.
The number of new claims outstanding over 50 days has dropped to three per cent, significantly better than the national standard required of ten per cent, and the average time for processing changes in circumstances is seven days, improving on the national standard required of nine days.
Overall, the BFI recorded that the benefits service in Stockton surpassed national standards in eight out of 12 performance measures and met 60 out of 65 national quality standards.
Stockton council's cabinet member for housing, Councillor Keith Leonard, said: "These improvements, together with efforts to ensure people are claiming their full entitlement, means the residents of Stockton are now receiving a first-class benefit service. I know the staff are still striving to improve the service."
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