THOUSANDS of people living in Conwy had to wait longer for their Housing Benefit payments.

Conwy Council posted a note on its website warning about the payment delay, which left more than 3,800 people without the funds on Friday.

The note on Conwy’s website read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances Housing Benefit payments due on 29 July 2022 will not be received until 1 August 2022. Please accept our apologies for this delay.”

But many older residents and those without internet access said nobody from the council had contacted them to explain.

MORE NEWS: Conwy chef and Gwynedd-based trio who fled Ukraine to headline food festival

David Williams, 73, of Chapel Street in Llandudno, said he and many of his friends were left out of pocket without knowing why.

“It turns out the council has had technical difficulties,” David, who is retired, said.

“I didn’t get my housing benefit, and I spoke to a few people who were rather upset they didn’t get their money.

“I’ll have to wait for the money, but it would have been nice if the council had told people about it. There are quite a few people who are finding their financial situation tight, and if their payments don’t go through, people start worrying that it’s been stopped. People won’t be able to pay their rent.

“I have friends with mental health problems, and they depend on their money, and they were really upset their money hadn’t come through.”

MORE NEWS: Conwy restaurant given new food hygiene rating

He added: “I’m not happy. I’m retired. You would be frightened if the money was stopped. The council should have told people, and there wouldn’t be a lot of upset people about.”

A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council said:  “Unfortunately, there was a delay in processing Housing Benefit which meant payments were made into bank accounts on Monday 1st August rather than Friday 29th July for 3,834 applicants, of which 1,482 had a direct payment and 2,352 had the payment going to their landlord.

“We apologise for this delay. A message was put on the council’s website and on the Housing Benefit phone line to let customers know.”