LIFT helps Forest of Dean District Council secure over £219,000 in financial support for local residents

Over a nine-month period, council officers used LIFT – an advanced data tool developed by Policy in Practice - to identify residents missing out on financial support and to run 18 targeted campaigns aimed at increasing benefit take-up, reducing debt and supporting households with the rising cost of living.

Cllr Jackie Dale, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities, said:

“The results we have achieved show the real difference that targeted, proactive support can make. Using LIFT has enabled us to reach residents who may not otherwise have come forward for help - and put hundreds of thousands of pounds back into the pockets of those who need it most. This is financial support that people are entitled to but haven’t been claiming.

“Alongside the significant benefits to individual households, this support can also strengthen local economies by increasing residents’ ability to spend locally."

Through this work, the Council has:

• Enabled 12 pensioners to collectively claim over £56,500 in Pension Credit - an average of £3,859 per household - significantly improving long-term financial security for older residents. Based on average life expectancy, the total value of this support is projected to exceed £517,000.
• Helped 14 households access Universal Credit, increasing their collective income by £12,780 per month - equivalent to £153,364 annually.
• Supported residents in obtaining Discretionary Housing Payments worth nearly £3,000, helping sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.
• Ensured 161 households are now receiving Council Tax Support following targeted outreach.
• Helped tackle fuel and water poverty by signposting over 1,400 residents to social tariffs and support from Severn Wye Energy Agency, generating a 77% increase in local referrals.
• Enabled households to reduce Council Tax arrears by £3,578, helping residents avoid escalating debt.
• Supported 17 households to escape the benefit cap, with average monthly take-home income rising by £128 among affected residents.
• Supported three households with severe disabilities to claim the Severe Disabilities Premium of their Housing Benefit, worth an additional £6,682 collectively.

The LIFT platform links benefits and administrative data to highlight low-income households most at risk of financial vulnerability. This has allowed the council to run highly targeted campaigns supporting pensioners, working age families, disabled residents, and households struggling with rising living costs.

The council will now continue this work to identify residents who are not claiming financial support they are eligible for and provide targeted support to maximise their income. It will also build on these early successes with new targeted campaigns, including:

• Place based support for families with young children in Lydney and Lydney East.
• A new NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) campaign to support young people into work.

Forest of Dean District Council remains committed to ensuring that every eligible resident receives the help and financial support they need and are entitled to during a challenging economic period.

For more information on the Council’s support services, visit: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/