While we are a landlord, it’s also key to note that we provide a range of support services, and these have been critical for a number of customers in the past few months.
Since April, our Financial Inclusion team has helped customers receive over £1m of extra income, ensuring that they’re receiving the money and benefits they are entitled to. This ranges from ensuring people are on the right benefits, to challenging decisions made about people’s benefits and even representing them at appeal tribunals.
Our Financial Inclusion team is working hard alongside our dedicated Rent Support team and other in-house support services to help customers in whatever way we can, and it’s great when we receive compliments about our services – here’s just one example we’ve received recently:
“I am writing to thank you so very, very much for all that you have done for us over the past five years or so that you have come into our lives. You truly are our ‘guardian angel’. We had a letter from DWP to say he’s been given the higher rate and we couldn’t believe it at first! If you hadn’t have told us and done the form, we would never have known about it, so thank you so much for doing it for us. I know you are only doing your job, but it really has made a world of difference to our lives. Everything that you have done for us, we really do appreciate all of it.”
If you think you might be missing out on benefits, please do get in touch with us – call our Customer Services team on 0300 123 5544.
Extra money for existing benefit claimants moving onto Universal Credit
If you make a new claim for Universal Credit (UC) whilst claiming Housing Benefit, you get two extra weeks Housing Benefit before it stops. From 22 July 2020, the same also applies to Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support. This means you will have extra help while you transition from the old benefits system to UC. UC also replaces Child and Working Tax Credits, however, there is no two weeks extra from these benefits.
For more information on UC please click here.
If you would like advice about whether claiming UC is right for you, particularly if you already get any of the other benefits mentioned in this section, get in touch with our Financial Inclusion team via Customer Services on 0300 123 5544, or email us at benefits@guhg.co.uk
Debt Advice Update
Behind on bills due to the coronavirus affecting your income? Lenders are continued to expect to offer payment holidays to those affected. Note that whilst this should not affect your credit rating, lenders can continue to charge interest while you are not making payments so it’s only worth doing if you cannot afford to make your normal payments.
We offer a free confidential and licensed debt advice service. We can give you comprehensive advice about your options to deal with debt, which can range from help to renegotiate agreements to advising on formal insolvency options. If you would like to access this service please get in touch with our Financial Inclusion team via Customer Services team on 0300 123 5544, or email us at money@guhg.co.uk