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Manchester City Council's benefit unit is struggling to process almost 76,000 documents since new laws were introduced in September that require all claimants to renew claims at least once a year.

The new legislation has been introduced at the same time as new computer software which has been installed over three weekends when staff would normally do overtime to clear any claims backlog.

To help clear the backlog, new claims have been made a priority and the process of visiting all new claimants in their home has been suspended.

Claimants can also visit their local housing offices in Dam Head, Harpurhey, Cheetham Hill and Newton Heath to have their claims validated rather than having to travel to Manchester Town Hall.

Benefits officers say the problem is partly due to people failing to respond to reminder notices requesting additional information until they are faced with formal notification for rent arrears.

Extra staff have already been recruited to help clear the backlog and further recruitment will take place in November to appoint another 10 staff.