CITY chiefs have said they are doing all they can to beat the crippling backlog in benefit claims causing misery for thousands of Southampton tenants.

The Daily Echo yesterday revealed the plight of city families who are having to struggle financially while benefits staff work through a 16-week backlog of claims. The problems, caused by government changes to the claims system and staff shortages, have meant residents have been unable to pay their rent and face eviction.

Now city council leader June Bridle has said the authority is hiring 16 extra staff to speed up the work.

The council has also brought in outside help and is arranging for claims to be processed on the Internet in a further bid to cut the waiting time.

Councillor Bridle said: "I feel for the people waiting for their benefit of course, but I also recognise the difficulties that staff have been working under since the government changed the criteria by which applications are judged.

"It has caused endless problems for staff and for people on benefits. The idea is that the government is trying to tackle fraud but it has put an undue burden on those checking the claims.

"We have recruited 16 new members of staff who are going to be trained up, which is quite a lengthy and quite a skilled process. We have also brought in consultative work from an agency. Some of the claims can now be assessed online so it can be done much more quickly.

"The process is an ongoing one. We are trying to put in place a mechanism that will work all the time. That's why we are recruiting extra permanent staff."

She added that the situation wasn't unique to Southampton.

"I would say that we and every local authority in the country are having to grapple with this. I am not saying we are any better or any worse - this is a national problem."

Her statement was welcomed by landlords. Roger Bell, chairman of the Southern Private Landlords Association which represents 2,000 privately rented homes in the city, said: "Naturally the SPLA is delighted and so will be all private landlords.

"The people who claim housing benefit are those least able to look after themselves and it has been so badly run down and has been allowed to decline in its ability to fulfil its task that people have been unable to claim.

"It is completely wrong for people who are in need to be excluded because of the ineptitude of any government or council to administer its affairs. I applaud June Bridle's words but the proof is in the eating."