A dedicated welfare reform helpline which gives general advice and information on benefits to residents of East Sussex has been relaunched with a new number – 0333 344 0681.

A technical fault with the previous service gave East Sussex County Council the opportunity to reconsider the number.

In light of advice from the regulator, Ofcom, about the use of 0800 numbers, which mobile users are charged for using, the helpline has been relaunched with an 03 number.

Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to 01 or 02 numbers and count towards any inclusive minutes within a landline or mobile package in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

The helpline, which is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, will offer the most up-to-date clear information and advice to help people understand what can often be a complex area.

Click here for more information on welfare reform and the changes to the benefit system www.eastsussex.gov.uk

Further information

Notes to Editors:

The 2012 Welfare Reform Act is making the biggest changes to the welfare benefits system for people of working age since the 1940s and will affect almost every area of the system.

Further details on these national changes are on the Department for Work and Pensions website at: www.gov.uk/dwp

East Sussex County Council is working in partnership with other local councils and agencies.

Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards said that consumers would be able to dial 03 numbers with confidence about the cost of their call and that Ofcom expected public services to view 03 numbers as an alternative to higher cost 08 numbers. For more information visit http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/telephone/03number