Service Helps Tenants Claim £888k In Benefits

The news comes as the Citizens Advice Bureau reveals that £16bn in income-related benefits and tax credits goes unclaimed in the UK in a year.

The CAB is calling on the government to set ambitious targets to tackle the problem.

Wellingborough Homes has joined forces with the Community Law Service to offer a free money advice service from its town centre offices. Advice worker Jackie Attfield is available to provide one-to-one appointments, home visits and ongoing support, and can also represent tenants in appeals and disputes.

Between January 2009 and January 2010, the service provided benefits advice and casework to 409 people and helped claim a total of £888,938 in benefits on their behalf.

This service is provided in addition to a range of other help and support including employment and health advice and the promotion of basic bank accounts, low cost home contents insurance and affordable loans.

Gordon O’Hara, head of housing management at Wellingborough Homes, said: “The take up of this service demonstrates the need for residents to get the right advice and support. This is particularly the case for those on lower incomes, who are the most financially excluded.

“Our experience in Wellingborough supports the Citizens Advice Bureau’s report about the situation nationally. Benefits provide a lifeline and can release the all-consuming pressures of continued money worries. This can restrict people from playing a full role in society, for example getting into work or training or giving their children the security they crave.

“We are delighted that our own advice service has helped so many tenants over the last year and know from feedback that this is making an impact on improving welfare and quality of life. We are committed to continuing this service and providing other opportunities to break down the barriers leading to debt.”

The CAB report has been published on behalf of 27 charities and focuses on the take-up of five key benefits - Income Support, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and housing and council tax benefits.

It says:

• Four in five low paid workers without children missed out on tax credits worth at least £38 a week
• Up to half of all working households do not claim housing benefit worth an average of £37.60 a week
• An average of £13 a week in council tax benefit is not being claimed by up to three million households
• Up to 1.7 million pensioners are missing out on an average of £31 in pension credit payments.

The money advice service in Wellingborough is funded by Wellingborough Homes with support from Legal Aid.

Any Wellingborough Homes tenants interested in getting money advice can contact the housing association on 01933 234450.