AN ACTION plan to clear Swindon's housing benefit backlog will be discussed by councillors on Thursday.

More than 2,000 people faced delays with their payments in September because a computer system used to process applications was so old office staff didn't know how to use it.

The whole system had to be shut down for five weeks while a new computer program was set up.

WS Atkins, the contractor which was brought in to process the claims by the council, has now produced an action plan to deal with the backlog by the end of March.

The problem surfaced after WS Atkins, based at Wat Tyler House, inherited the old system when it took over in November 1999.

According to the company, the system was so antiquated training was no longer available on how to use it.

The borough's Housing Advisory Forum will be discussing a report prepared by council finance director Ian Thompson and housing director Marie Seaton at a meeting tomorrow.

The report said: "The close down of the computer system and the subsequent backlog in the benefits office has meant that the processing of new and the review of benefits claims of council tenants has been delayed.

"It was anticipated that during the close-down period the number of outstanding items of work would increase.

"Now that the new system is operational it is essential that the claims backlog is cleared as soon as possible and that the new system capabilities are fully developed."

WS Atkins has recruited six extra staff to assess claims and clear the backlog.