THURROCK Council has launched a new section on its website offering information about changes to benefit laws.


The changes, which are due to come into effect on Monday, April 1, include a new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment, and a cap on how much benefits a person can get.


The council’s home page will feature a series of question and answer sections, and explanations about the changes.


Letters will also be sent out to residents directly affected in the next two weeks.


Thurrock Council leader John Kent said: “People may have read about changes like Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment, but they come into affect later this year and many of them may not be affected until 2015.


“But there are several other major changes which the council has to carry out and which will affect people from April.


“These include housing benefit for social housing tenants – those in council-owned homes or housing association homes – who have more bedrooms than the new law says they need.


“Then there is the Local Council Tax Support Scheme. Council Tax benefit, as it is at the moment, is being abolished from the end of March.

"It is being replaced by local schemes which have to be administered by councils.”


For more information, log on to www.thurrock.gov.uk.