DESPERATE disabled people have been given a huge cash boost of at least £750,000 in just one year by a Kidderminster charity.DIAL benefits officer Tony Wilson.

North Worcestershire Disablement Information Advice Line has unveiled the startling figures a year after launching its benefits project aimed at guiding them through the complicated maze of form filling and appeals.

And DIAL manager Ali Taylor, who wants to help even more people by recruiting six new volunteers, believes this is just the tip of the iceberg.

She said: "What makes this figure so amazing is the fact that it only represents the increases for clients who we have done form- filling work for.

"Many, many more clients who we advise go on to fill in the forms themselves. Their successes aren't even recorded in these statistics - the actual figure could be much higher."

An £83,000 National Lottery Community Fund grant over three years paved the way for Tony Wilson to come in as a full- time benefits officer, who alongside Ms Taylor is supported by 16 volunteers.

People in Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove or Redditch living with "impairment, illness and disability" - and their carers - are eligible for free help in checking entitlement to benefits, filling in complicated forms and representation at appeals tribunals.

Since last October, more than 550 disabled people have been helped, with 91 housebound clients being visited at home.

One client had felt "disappointed, let down and desperate" about finances after his attendance allowance claim renewal was turned down. But DIAL turned the situation around: "I can't praise them enough - a long time was spent helping me with my claim," he said.

DIAL, based at Sandalwood Resource Centre, Comberton Road, has been running since 1989 offering help on a wide range of subjects - and half of the charity's clients hail from Wyre Forest.

The new service helps boost people's income through schemes like disability living allowance, council tax benefits and income support.

"Poacher-turned-gamekeeper" Mr Wilson, from Redditch, worked for 30 years in social security before early retirement and taking up his current post, which he finds rewarding.

"Now I'm trying to get benefits for people rather than trying not to pay them!"

However, both he and Ms Taylor are concerned many people are not aware DIAL offers the service - for which many organisations charge.

Now six extra volunteers are needed to help with benefit form- filling work, with training, expenses and ongoing support on offer.

Ms Taylor can be contacted on 01562 60241 for more information.

The DIAL helpline is 0800 970 7202.