COUNCIL welfare officers are joining forces with health chiefs to hand out benefit advice to patients attending flu jab clinics.
Hambleton District Council is working with Mowbray House Surgery, in Malpas Road, Northallerton, as part of a pilot project.
Nationally, only about 60 per cent of eligible people take up council tax benefit. Since March, it has risen by 7.5 per cent in Hambleton.
Councillor David Blades said: "Historically, the take-up of this benefit has been lower than any other. There is a great lack of knowledge and a perception that this is charity. Most of the people who do not claim are elderly and they do not want handouts. But this is available to them and it is only right that they claim it."
Welfare officer Lisa Fry will be giving out leaflets and advice at the surgery from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, 11.30am to 1.30pm on Wednesday, 9.30am to 11.45am next Thursday and 4.30pm to 5.45pm next Friday.
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