Our free financial support service reaches £1 million milestone!

Our Financial Inclusion team has helped residents to improve their finances by a combined value of over £1 million in the space of a year!  

For those that may not know, we offer a free, confidential support and information service to all of our tenants – this includes advice on budgeting and managing bills, providing foodbank vouchers, referring them to other services if necessary, and making sure they receive all the benefits they are entitled to.

In total, 206 residents are now financially better off as a direct result of the support from our Financial Inclusion team between October 2023 and September 2024. 

The amount that they are better off by adds up to £1,063,841.10 per annum, which is the first time that we have surpassed a million pounds in a 12-month period!

This figure includes £444,397 worth of Housing Benefit and £297,150 in Universal Credit, as well as Pension Credit, various other benefits, and payments from our own Welfare Fund for people in need of support with living costs.

Recently a tenant approached the team at a cost-of-living event and explained that weren’t receiving any benefits. They have some health issues which may make them eligible for Attendance Allowance, and a benefit check identified that they may be entitled to Housing Benefit. They were supported with both applications and were awarded higher rate Attendance Allowance of £108.55 per week and Housing benefit of £31.18 per week. Altogether this will give them an extra £7,343.33 in their pocket each year.

Cheryl Jago, our Tenancy Sustainment Team Leader, said, “We are very proud to have been able to support so many of our residents during what was a tough year financially for many people. The fact that we have been able to surpass our target and help people to be better off by more than £1 million in total just goes to show how many people are not receiving the benefits they are entitled to.”