Recession Advice

Benefit health check

Don’t miss out on what you are entitled to. We can provide free confidential advice and a guide through the complex and often confusing benefits maze.

If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you may be eligible for tax credits or benefits to boost your income:

are you on a low income?
do you have children under 19?
do you have an illness or a disability?
are you pregnant?
are you over 60?

For further advice please contact the rents hotline 020 8531 8097 or to do a self assessment using the benefits calculator at: http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Direct Gov

This website lists all public services in one place. Here you will find information about: Motoring, Education and Learning, Money, Tax and Benefits, Employment, Young People, Travel and Transport, Pensions and Retirement Planning, Disabled People, Young People and many more. http://www.direct.gov.uk/

Employment and Training

WorkNet can help you take the first steps to employment by helping you learn new skills, as well as offering you support and advice. WorkNet promotes education, training and work placements to help people get future employment. For further information see www.walthamforest.gov.uk/worknet

Worknet run a drop in surgery session at our offices at Willow House in the Tenant Resource Centre every Tuesday between 10am to 1pm. For further information contact Rubeena Amanullah on 0208 496 4966.

My WalthamForest.Net is an online network helping local residents access local jobs, training and support. You can register and create your own employment profile based on your skills and experience, which is then matched to vacancies across Waltham Forest, Haringey and Enfield. Visit www.mywalthamforest.net/waltham

Jobseeker’s Allowance is the main benefit for people who are out of work or work less than 16 hours a week on average. If eligible this benefit is paid fortnightly into your bank or building society account.

For more information including details of how to make a claim online please go to: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/ or telephone 0800 055 6688 to make a claim in person. This process can take up to several weeks to get the payments sorted.

There are two different versions: Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance

This allowance will be paid for up to 182 days and it is based on how much National Insurance you have paid in the last two tax years. Generally, self-employed contributions do not qualify for contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

As indicated this allowance is based on your income and savings. If you have limited savings and are on a low income you may be entitled to this even if you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions. For those claiming health related benefits but want to get closer to the labour market, Pathways to Work can help.

Emergency Money

The Department of Work and Pensions Social Fund payment offer two types of interest free loans: a Crisis Loan for emergencies and a Budgeting Loan which allows the receiver to pay for clothes or / and furnishing.

Crisis Loans

These loans have been set-up for emergencies because the government recognises that people who are on a low income find it very difficult for budget for emergency expenses, funeral costs, a new baby etc.

Budgeting Loans

These loans are only available to benefit recipients and you can borrow a sum of up to £1,500.

To apply for one of the loans visit your nearest Jobcentre.

You could also be in a situation where you have no money coming in at all. There is money available for these situations, although it is limited. This is known as the Social Fund. The Social Fund includes funeral payments, maternity grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans, community care grants and cold weather payments. Winter fuel payments are also a type of Social Fund payment, but they are restricted to people aged 60 and over.

Basic Bank Accounts

A basic bank account allows you to receive money (wages, benefits, etc.), pay bills (direct debt, standing orders), withdraw money at cash machines and pay in cheques. To find out more information and how to open a basic bank account go to www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the UK’s financial watchdog set-up by the government to regulate financial services and to protect your rights.

Loan sharks

A ‘loan shark’ is someone who is lending money without having a licence to do so from the Office of Fair Trading. Loan sharks all tend to charge extremely high interest rates and add charges whenever they want. They can often get violent if payments are missed and they rarely give paperwork, making it difficult to keep track of how much is owed.

Also be aware of doorstep lenders, they might sound like they are offering you a great deal but make sure that you are fully aware of what interest you are repaying, sometimes this can be three or four times the cost of the actual item you are buying.

If you have already borrowed money from an unlicensed money lender you are under no legal obligation to repay the debt and should contact your local Trading Standards Officer for help. http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/

Citizens Advice Bureau

The CAB offers free, confidential and independent advice. This advice is available face to face or over the phone. The rents hotline service can arrange an appointment with our CAB officer at Willow House. This service is available every Tuesday between 1pm and 4pm. http://www.walthamforestcab.org.uk/home.html

Shelter

Shelter is a charity which has been set-up to assist people who have been caused distress by bad housing and homelessness. They can offer information and impartial advice to people in housing need. Please note that they can not re-house you but they can direct you to organisations that may be able to help. http://www.shelter.org.uk/

Family and relationships

As redundancy, unemployment and money worries rise, more and more people worry about how to pay rent, bills and generally survive in this economic downturn. This loss of income or money worries can affect relationships with your family and partner. If you are experiencing relationship problems please contact Relate http://www.relate.org.uk/ or telephone them on 0300 100 1234.

Money worries can also affect your self-esteem and self-confidence and can lead to depression and anxiety. If you are feeling stressed because of money worries please call the NHS’s helpline ‘NHS Credit Crunch Stressline’ between 8am and 10pm 7days a week for practical advice on 0300 123 2000 or go online www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Onabudget/Pages/Creditcrunchstresshelp.aspx

If you are feeling depressed about your current circumstances please don’t hesitate to contact the Samaritans http://www.samaritans.org/ or telephone 08457 90 90 90 at anytime day or night and one of their volunteers will offer you a friendly non-judgemental ear.

Energy Efficiency

We are working in partnership with North East London Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (NELEEAC) to assist council tenants to save money and energy around the home. They offer energy efficiency advice that can save you money on fuel costs and reduce your carbon footprint.

For more information please contact NELEEAC on 0800 4587 107

Energy Grants

If you are struggling to pay your gas and electricity bills you could be eligible for a grant which is available to all council tenants if they are a customer of London Energy, SWEB Energy, Seeboard Energy or EDF Energy.

For more information about getting a grant please contact EDF Energy Trust Grants 020 8534 3487 or look them up on http://www.elfi.org.uk/ or visit ELFI, 1st Floor, 1 Water Lane, Stratford, E15 4LU

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Recession Advice