THE length of time it takes Sedgefield Borough Council to process benefit claims is continuing to fall.

A report to the council's scrutiny committee next week will update the progress made under the Benefits Service Improvement Plan (SIP).

The plan was implemented following a damning report into the service in July last year, which revealed huge delays in processing claims and a massive backlog.

The SIP included more than 100 key recommendations needed to bring the service up to standard and most have now been implemented.

The report says that the average time taken to process new claims, which had stood at 105 days, is down to 66 days.

That figure includes claims still outstanding before April, but the average time taken to process all new claims since then is 45 days, one day above the council target of 44.

Claims which include the full supporting documentation are being dealt with within five working days.

The report also says that progress is dependent on retaining experienced staff, but adds that turnover is still significantly higher than the council average.

A third annual survey of the benefits service is to be carried out by Norma Wilburn Associates over the next few weeks.

The full report will be presented to the borough council's scrutiny committee on Tuesday.