The £1.7 million has brought the total amount secured since the service was introduced in 2011 to over £8 million. 

George Tainsh, the Association’s chief executive, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and fully endorses the Association’s decision to introduce the service by employing two specialist members of staff.

“In Margaret Hall and Robert Cowan we now have the staff resources to make a real difference to the lives of many of our tenants and their families who are being squeezed financially from many different angles. Being in a position to offer advice and practical assistance to ensure that every £1 due to tenants is being claimed is vitally important.”

He added: “On the flip side it is disappointing that many families continue to find it difficult to make ends meet.”

Discussing the delivery of the service, tenancy sustainment officer Margaret Hall said: “With Universal Credit now firmly within the Welfare Rights spectrum, we have had to come up with some new strategies to help our tenants. We are always thinking of new ways to improve the situation that some of our tenants find themselves in, by big changes or small.”

She added: “The thank you cards that we have received do help us to keep going!”

Ochil View Housing Association manages over 1,400 rented properties in Clackmannanshire and West Fife.