Local authorities

Apply Once is designed to help Luton Council to consolidate our application, assessment and approval processes for discretionary funds. It makes the application process simpler and faster for our residents, ensure that the awards reach those most in need and provide additional support through income maximisation across the broadest range of benefits. Apply Once will also deliver greater customer insight, contributing to a better understanding and improved single view of the customer, enabling more informed decision making and policy development. Through maximising income to residents, we know there are also positive financial benefits for the Council including reductions in council owed debt and decreased demand for council services.

Nikki Middleton, Luton Borough Council

LIFT will allow us to reach residents of both working and pension age groups and ensure that those entitled to assistance are aware of the national support that is available and that it is fully utilised, including attendance allowance, council tax support and pension credits. In addition, and through our partnership work with local support organisations, we can also make sure that more holistic support can be provided.

Cllr Jackie Dale Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities, Forest of Dean District Council

The Financial inclusion team has used LIFT to identify households for support at different points and to target the interventions accordingly. Using LIFT we were able to apportion an element of the Household Support Fund to those experiencing or at risk of experiencing fuel poverty. We have used the software to simplify a number of complex data sets. This allowed us to target those who owe council tax but also have a disability so to ensure that we support with applications for relevant discounts.

Sharon Warner, Head of Welfare Revenues and Benefits, Bracknell Forest Council

Due to high workloads with the team and huge demand for our Your Money team, who offer FREE confidential advice to residents to maximise their incomes, we had to carefully select the cohorts to target, based on minimal impact to the teams. As such, we regularly target those groups to claim benefits such as Pension Credit or additional support through the WaterSure tariff. It’s excellent to see the result and the impact this is making to our residents and to the council services we provide.

Lisa Martindale Revenues and Benefits Group Manager

These are fantastic results that show when we work collaboratively with a strong communications brief, some clear insights about our residents and appropriate methods of targeting with the right messages and support, we can make a massive difference.

Margaret Gallagher Haringey Council

Through this campaign, the Welfare Support Team has successfully helped vulnerable households in a vast number of ways from opening bank accounts, helping to reduce debt, accessing free travel and parking, further NHS prescriptions, free TV licences, assisting with utility bills and much, much more! We are extremely proud of the success of this campaign and the difference we have made to these Luton households. Over the next few years we hope to see an increase of income and support estimated at a value of £4.5 million for these households.

Shakira Uddin Customer Services Operation and Delivery Manager, Luton Council

The average Discretionary Housing Payment award for 77 households was £2,500 with over £70,000 in additional supports identified for 44 households using the Better Off Calculator. Over £570,000 was collected in arrears with no new arrears six months later.

Trevor Isles Rent Former Arrears and Credits Manager, Redbridge Council