Money Matters
With the cost of living continuing to be a challenge for many people, remember that help is on hand from our Money Matters Team, who can provide confidential support and guidance to customers who are experiencing financial hardship.
We aim to empower customers to effectively manage their finances so that they can move away from any financial pressures and flourish in their tenancy.
Our free, impartial advice is available to all customers, and we have permission from the Financial Conduct Authority to provide debt counselling and debt adjusting services.
We can support customers in the following ways:
- Help them plan a budget.
- Support customers to maximise their income.
- Assist customers to address Priority and Non-Priority Debts.
- Coach and support customers to apply for welfare benefits.
- Guide customers to challenge incorrect welfare benefit decisions.
- Help customers navigate changes to the welfare benefits system e.g. Universal Credit Managed Migration.
- Enable customers to access energy advice and additional support within their community.
- Assist customers to access local funding and grants.
Getting advice from the team is straightforward. Simply send an email to moneymatters@greatplaces.org.uk and a team member will get back in touch.
Moving to Universal Credit: key information
Universal Credit replaces housing benefit, income support, job seekers allowance, and employment support allowance. If you receive a letter about this change, it means your previous benefits will stop.
Before the date on the letter, apply online at www.gov.uk/dwp/move-to-uc to ensure transitional protection if you might be worse off. If you expect a change that increases your benefits, like having a baby, wait until it happens before applying.
For online applications, you'll need an email address, contact number, bank details, national insurance number, household details, and rent costs. Verification can be done online with a passport or driving license; otherwise, you may need to visit the job centre.
If you can't apply online, call 0800 169 0328 for assistance. Benefits are paid in arrears, with the first payment five weeks after your claim. Notify your local authority if you receive council tax support/rebate. Personal Independence Payment remains unchanged.
Employability Service
Great Places' Employability Service is available to all our customers and anyone living in their households. We can support people to progress with their career goals by helping them find training courses, job opportunities, apprenticeships and volunteering. We run regular self-employment courses and can provide funds to contribute towards start-up costs. We can also help with travel expenses, interview clothes and digital devices. Our service is tailored to the individual, and offer support meetings face-to-face, over the telephone or online. We look at someone’s wider situation and take into account people’s finances, confidence levels and anything else that’s proving to be a challenge.
Over the past few months, we have provided first aid, food hygiene, henna art, lashes, DIY courses, barista and podcasting training for our customers in different regions. Whether you’re just leaving school and need help with your CV and job searching or if you're in a job and need some guidance about changing careers and retraining, the Employability Service can help you.
If you’d like to refer yourself to your local Employability Coach, you can either speak with your Neighbourhood Services Manager or self-refer via the Great Places website and completing the online form.