Benefits
What are you entitled to?
Havebury provides a welfare and benefits advice service that has a dedicated Rent Adviso
r providing assistance to its tenants and leaseholders.
The service offers free, specialist and impartial advice on welfare and benefit issues. Havebury also offers support in helping tenants and leaseholders to maximise their income by completing benefit checks and providing assistance in completing benefit application forms.
The specialist advisor has been successful in claiming benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance to help maximise tenant’s weekly income. They have also had successes in helping tenants claiming backdating housing and council tax benefit for periods when a tenant was entitled to the benefits but didn’t have a valid claim in. They are also involved in helping tenants resolve complex housing benefit issues that have helped to prevent possession proceedings.
The specialist advisor can visit you at your home to provide you the advice and assistance that you need and liaise with other organisations to try and maximise your income.
Have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions below which cover issues surrounding debt, benefits and changes to your circumstances. You might find that there is help out there for you.
» Benefits - Frequently Asked Questions
Benefit take-up for Pensioners
Havebury offer a service of Benefit checks and help with applications for all tenants. Many pensioners in particular are unaware of their entitlements to Housing and Council Tax Benefit. As a rough guide to those with less than £16000 we would recommend a check for single pensioners with less than £270 per week coming in or couples with less than £360 per week.
Pensioners who claim DLA or Attendance Allowance could have even greater income and still qualify.Some pensioners receive full Housing and Council Tax Benefit but do not claim a Pension Credit top-up to their income and we can also help with Pension Credit claims.
Many single males between 61 and 65 or couples with an oldest partner between those ages on a low income miss out on entitlement to Pension Credit or Housing and Council Tax Benefit, unaware of the higher amounts allowable in this age bracket before income is taken fully into consideration.
Finally, there are some occasions where tenants may have circumstances of low state retirement pensions but over £16000 and they could still be entitled to Pension Credit and Housing and Council Tax Benefit, particularly where DLA or Attendance Allowance is claimed.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Benefits and Welfare Adviser, Paul Finch, on 01284 722136 for advice and support today.
Useful Links
Havebury has good links with local advisory and support agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Christians Against Poverty and SNAP floating support who we can make referrals to offer you further support to help you maintain your tenancy and improve your financial circumstances.
Direct Gov – advice on money, tax and benefits
Benefits Advisor service on Direct Gov Website
National Debtline – free and confidential and independent advice
CAB – Citizens Advice – free, independent and confidential advice
Money Savings Expert – provide the money savings guides, tips and tools.
Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union – Affordable credit and low cost loans
Consumer Credit counselling Service
Charitable trusts – Turn2Us – enable you to look for a charity that may be able to help
Christians Against Poverty – a national debt counselling charity
