A TRIAL scheme to check benefit claims in the North West will be based in Blackburn and supported by a £142,000 government grant.

The project to check welfare claims in Greater Manchester and Lancashire, managed from the Blackburn DSS office, will receive £142,000 from a special modernising government fund.

The six-month trial scheme will be a comprehensive claims checking and completion service involving the design of new forms.

The grant was part of £3.27 million given to 10 projects in the North West from the Government's Invest To Save initiative.

Cabinet Office Minister Mo Mowlam said the Government was committed to "new and exciting ways of delivering public services."

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