Sound financial advice is on hand for customers of Halton Housing Trust to help them beat the credit crunch, following the launch of a new welfare support service.

A helping hand is being extended to customers who have mounting bills, are struggling financially, want some practical advice on their benefit entitlement or how to best manage their finances on a day-to-day basis.

The service is being managed by Amber Cairns - the Trust’s recently appointed welfare support officer. Amber, who is trained by the Citizens Advice Bureau in financial management, understands the pressures faced by Trust customers because she is also a customer herself.

Despite only being in post since September and employed on a part time basis the demand for the service has been high. Assistance has been provided to more than 70 customers, helping them secure over £75,000 in additional income.

Amber said: “If the bills are mounting and you are struggling to pay your rent - do not suffer in silence. Contact the Trust immediately because help is at hand.

“We want to offer practical tenancy and welfare support to our customers to help them bear the brunt of the credit crunch and manage their finances so they can stay on top of their rent payments and not fall in to arrears.”

Customers are encouraged to contact Amber who is able offer advice over the telephone or arrange an appointment to carry out a financial health check. As well as looking at where savings can be made, the Trust can help their customers’ budget for a range of day-to-day living expenses.
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The Trust’s service also provides practical advice for customers on a lone income, those who may have recently been made redundant or have an illness or incapacity – making sure people are getting the benefits that they are entitled too. These include Tax Credits, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Alternatively, they can signpost customers to other agencies that can help.

Here are typical examples of how the Trust has been able to help:

• One Runcorn family visited the Trust to get advice on their benefit entitlement after they had returned to work. Now earning over £200 per week they thought they were not entitled to any additional benefits.  After looking into their circumstances the Trust discovered they were eligible to Child and Working Tax Credits of around £115 per week.  This amount would pay for their rent and Council Tax leaving them much better off.
• The Trust spoke with a Widnes family who had suffered from a job loss and were facing financial difficulties.  After checking their entitlement they were advised that they were entitled to over £100 extra per week in Tax Credits and could apply for a backdated payment of up to three months. This resulted in a lump sum payment of over £1,000 being awarded just in time for Christmas.
• After speaking to a Widnes customer who had returned to work for 16 hours a week after being on benefit for a long time – the Trust discovered the customer would still get 80% of their rent and Council Tax paid. This means she will be over £50 better off each week.

Please contact the Trust on 0151 510 5000 for more information on the welfare support service.