|
Welcome to the November issue of our monthly tenant bulletin. Providing support and guidance to our tenants is important. In the run-up to Christmas there's even more demands on our money, so in this edition you'll find lots of information and sources of help relating to money advice, the cost of living, paying your rent and benefits. Read on to find out more.....
 Help is available for tenants who may be struggling to manage their money
Many people are struggling to manage their money and pay their bills on time. The current financial climate is difficult, with prices of everyday items continuing to increase. If you are one of the many people struggling to manage then help and support is available.
General advice about things like, food, money and energy is available here
One of the best tools for many households is to help people make their money go further. We have a new page dedicated to the support on offer here . If people are on Universal Credit they may be eligible for Council tax relief, Water relief and cheaper broadband and phone contracts.
Anyone can request help to make their money go further by calling the Community Helpline on 0114 2734567, Option 0. The following links are also really useful:
Additional support is also available via the following:
Food If you are having difficulty paying for food, then a local foodbank may be able to help. We can provide details of where they are, when they are open and make a referral for you. Contact us on 0114 2930000 to find out more.
Household Support Fund If you need urgent support coping with everyday living expenses, we can help to navigate you through a wide range of hardship grants and support schemes. Please call 0114 273 4567 for more information.
Keeping warm/ Welcome spaces The Council has worked with partners across the city to provide ‘welcome places’, which will provide convenient spaces for people to access help, just call in to be warm, or have a cup of tea and a chat in their local communities. If you are interested you will find the map here, or please call 0114 2734567 for further information.
Useful benefits advice
Pension Credit - could you be entitled?
Pensioners are being urged to apply for a benefit that could be worth on average £3,900 per year, as the Department for Work and Pensions has launched a campaign to increase Pension Credit take-up. With as many as 880,000 pensioners nationally missing out, the campaign aims to spread awareness and increase claims for Pension Credit (which from this year will also automatically enable eligible pensioners to receive the Winter Fuel Payment).
The campaign tries to tackle myths that may prevent people applying, for instance having a small private pension, savings or owning their own home.
Families, friends and neighbours are encouraged to reach out to retired family members to encourage them to check their eligibility and apply. The last possible date to make a successful backdated claim to receive the Winter Fuel Payment is 21 December 2024.
Applications for Pension Credit can be made on the How to Claim page on GOV.UK or over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm).
|
|
The move to Universal Credit
|
|
 |
Are you of working age, and still claiming either JSA, Income Support, Tax Credits, ESA or Housing Benefit? If so, you are likely to be moved to Universal Credit within the next 12 months.
For Tax Credits, there are only a few months to go before the scheme closes. Those in receipt of tax credits do not need to take action until they receive a migration notice from the Department for Work and Pensions, but once received it's important to act quickly. GOV.UK has also been updated to include help for claimants to better understand how the transitional element is calculated when they move to Universal Credit. For full guidance go to the website.
Money Saving Expert have launched a new "Move to UC Managed Migration" guide. This includes key information about the move and steps to take, and urges customers not to ignore their invitation to move over to Universal Credit. It also stresses that the move to Universal Credit isn’t automatic and that customers must actively apply for UC within the three-month deadline set out in their migration notice letter. Read the article ‘Got a letter about moving to Universal Credit? Act now so you don't lose your benefits’ for more information.
The general advice for everybody who receives a letter from the DWP advising they need to claim Universal Credit is to act on this, and do not ignore the letter. You will have a limited time to make your claim, and if you do not do this your current benefit will stop, and you may lose your entitlement to any transitional protection you would otherwise have received.
Sheffield Citizen’s Advice have a Help to Claim service, where they will assist people of working age to make a claim for Universal Credit. Further details of the Help to Claim service can be found online at - Contact us about applying for Universal Credit - Citizens Advice
 |
|
Council tax support
|
If you are on a low income, you may be able to claim Council Tax Support, and the online application form can be found here - Apply for Council Tax support | Sheffield City Council
Council Tax Hardship Scheme: We also have a scheme to provide further assistance to households who receive Council Tax Support but are unable to meet their Council Tax costs. The online application can be found here - Discretionary Housing Payment and Council Tax Hardship Scheme | Sheffield City Council
Housing Benefit
If you are of pension age then you may be eligible to claim Housing Benefit, and the online application form can be found here – Apply for Housing Benefit | Sheffield City Council
Help to pay your rent
 If you are struggling to pay your rent, then please contact us on 0114 2930000. We can review your rent account and discuss your difficulties with you.
We can make an arrangement to repay your arrears over a longer period of time or set up a Direct Debit, so it is one less thing you need to remember to pay. We can also check to see if you are entitled to any benefits.
If your water rates are particularly high then you may be eligible for additional support from Yorkshire Water.
There may be other ways we can help if you are struggling with your rent, so please do get in touch so we can discuss these with you.
Pre-paid weeks
The Pre-paid weeks for Sheffield Council tenants this year are the weeks commencing 16th and 23rd December. These weeks are now referred to as Pre-paid, as the annual rent charged is paid over 50 weeks (or 51 in a 53 week year) meaning we do not apply rent charges to rent accounts for 2 weeks in December.
If you pay your rent by Direct Debit you do not need to take any action.
For those that pay monthly by direct debit, your payment for December will not change. This is because the Pre-paid weeks are taken into account when your monthly payments are calculated, ensuring you make equal payments throughout the year.
For those that pay weekly or fortnightly by direct debit, there will be no payment taken during the Pre-paid weeks, and again your payments have been calculated taking these weeks into account.
If you do not pay by direct debit, and have arrears on your rent account, you should continue to make some payments during these weeks, to reduce the level of your arrears.
We understand this is a difficult time for many people who may be struggling to manage their money. It is important however that you continue to pay your rent, or try to make payments during the Pre-paid weeks if you are in arrears. If you wish to speak to us about your rent account please call 0114 2930000.
|
