The provision of additional financial resources for advice agencies to assist those affected by changes to benefit entitlements, has been welcomed by Derry Sinn Fein Councillor Sandra Duffy.
A report on the issue is due to come before Derry City and Strabane District Council this week.It is part of the Stormont Executive’s Fresh Start proposals designed to mitigate against some of the worst effects of Welfare measures being introduced by the Tory government at Westminster.
Cllr Duffy (pictured) said as part of the package proposed in the report, finance would be made available to existing advice aAgencies to hire new staff and retrain existing staff to ensure that eligible claimants wukd not lose out on any benefits to which they were entitled and that any mitigation payments were” processed expeditiously.”
Cllr Duffy (pictured) added; “It is imperative that no one is left in financial distress through lack of capacity in local Advice Agencies therefore this additional resource will be welcomed by those who provide frontline services to the local community.”
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