Liverpool City Council has begun a budget consultation on a proposal to make changes to the Benefits Maximisation Service.
The council is facing unprecedented budget pressures which means that it has to find savings of £73M in 2023/2024, and further savings in the two following years.
The Benefits Maximisation Team consists of specialist advisors that provide advice and support to Liverpool residents. The team helps people to claim benefit, and wider support, and can provide assistance with representation at benefit tribunals.
The team receives referrals from council departments, external organisations and residents of Liverpool. They also work with our Adult Services Department to maximise benefit to those who have to pay for social care.
In 2021-2022 the team received in excess of 6,000 referrals and helped residents to claim £8.3M in additional benefits.
The Benefits Maximisation Team is a discretionary service and the cost of the team is approximately £1.1M per year.
We are currently considering two options:
Option 1
Stop providing a Benefits Maximisation function. This would save the council £1.1M per year
Option 2
Reduce the scope of the Benefits Maximisation Team so that it only deals with residents who are receiving social care. This would save the council approximately £800K per year.
If neither of these options happen, we may need to reduce or stop services elsewhere.
We’d like to hear your views on the options provided above by completing a short online survey by 27 January. It can be found at https://liverpool.gov.uk/bmsconsultation.
If you have any specific queries about this consultation, please email benefitsmaxsurvey@liverpool.gov.uk.
Following consultation, a report will be sent to Budget Council to make a final decision in March 2023.
Any change would take effect from 1st April 2023.