Where to turn to in a crisis

Transcription

1 Midlothian Area Resources Coordination for Hardship Can you help? Where to turn to in a crisis Introduction: Responding to the impact of Welfare Reform The current welfare reform programme being implemented by the UK government has already resulted in some of Midlothian s poorest residents having a reduction in their income, for example those effected by the so-called Bedroom Tax. As more changes to the benefit system are rolled out over the coming year more people are likely to find themselves in crisis and requiring immediate support just to access resources to meet their essential daily living costs, such as food, warmth and shelter. The following short guide gives information about what sources of help are available and local services which are able to offer a crisis response to individuals and families that the welfare system has let down, and who have been left at risk, and without the resources they require to meet their essential needs. A CRISIS SIGNPOSTING guide: Where to send someone for help if they have no money or food (or if they are experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of Welfare Reform) No Money No Food No Heat No Shelter No Information No Hope YES we can ISSUE FIVE: NOVEMBER 2014 INSIDE THIS GUIDE Getting Money...1 Getting Advice...2 Getting Food...3 Fuel Poverty...4 Homelessness...5 Clothing & Household items..6 Wellbeing.7 Transport to get help...8 STOP PRESS On a Benefit Sanction? Crisis grants or hardship payments available to prevent hardship to those in need. No Money for food? New Satellite foodbank in Dalkeith (see page 14) Fuel Poverty? Find out if you can get a discount or grant

2 Section 1: Getting Money 1. MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL 1.1 Scottish Welfare Fund (a) Crisis Grants As from April 2013 Crisis Loans for living expenses which were previously available from the Social Fund, have been replaced by Crisis Grants which in Scotland are managed by local authorities on behalf of the Scottish Government, through a new scheme called the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF). Crisis Grants provide a safety net in the event of a disaster or emergency for people who are usually in receipt of or eligible for income-based benefits such as Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or Income Support, although it is not essential for applicants to be claiming benefits if they meet the other criteria. Someone can apply for a crisis grant if they have no money and need help to cover immediate essential daily living costs such as food, non-food household items like washing powder, toiletries etc., or gas and electric if they have a pre-payment meter. Crisis Grants for food are normally paid in the form of vouchers which can only be redeemed in exchange for food at certain local food stores. Up to a maximum of three crisis grants may be awarded to an individual within any 12 month period, although if they have a partner, both of them may be eligible for up to three crisis grants each. A crisis grant is normally awarded to cover essential daily living costs until the next benefit payment is expected, but if there is a further delay in payments it may be possible to get a crisis grant extended. Applications for crisis grants can be submitted by phone by calling Midlothian council aim to process applications for Crisis grants within two working days and the person applying will receive a phone call to notify them of the decision and if successful they will be able to collect their grant from council offices in Dalkeith or Penicuik. As from the 1st April 2014 people who are currently on a benefit Sanction will be treated the same as any other applicant and if they meet the criteria they can be awarded a grant. (b) Community Care Grants The SWF also manages community care grants which help people to leave care and live on their own, or to continue living in their own home. For instance by providing furniture and essential household items like a cooker for someone moving into their own home after a period of living in a hospital, care home, hostel or prison setting. In certain circumstances a Community Care Grant can provide money for clothing, for instance, to someone leaving prison or fleeing domestic violence. Midlothian Council Aim to process applications for Community Care Grants within 15 working days. Crisis and Community Care grants do not have to be repaid. To find out more or to apply contact: Midlothian Scottish Welfare Fund: Page 2

3 1.2 Social work Payments Section 1: Getting Money If someone is not eligible for a crisis grant, or if they have already had the maximum of three crisis grants this year, but they are experiencing severe hardship, they may be able to get other financial help from Midlothian Council. Section 12 Payments Local Authorities have a statutory duty to support vulnerable individuals and children in need if there is an emergency and operate discretionary payments for such. A vulnerable person is one the regulations (Social Work Scotland Act 1968 Section 12) define as person in need, being 18 or over and includes people who:- Are elderly or Have a mental illness or physical disability or Are vulnerable in other ways (e.g. drug/alcohol dependency or domestic abuse) Have applied for asylum and are awaiting outcome of an appeal Section 12 Payments can cover emergencies, debts, and preventative help to avoid a person s needs becoming greater. Some examples may be: Cash payments - pay a fuel bill to stop disconnection of supply Payments to third parties a rent guarantee to a landlord Payments in kind - vouchers to purchase food, fuel, clothing, furniture Section 22 Payments Local authorities also have a duty of care for children in need. In exceptional emergency situations the local authority can provide discretionary cash payments under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to help promote the needs of the child if help is unable to be provided in some other way. Section 27 Payments If they are an ex-offender and have been released from prison within the last 12 months and are being supported by a social worker from the Criminal Justice team they may be able to get a cash payment under section 27 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act To find out more or to apply contact: They can speak to their allocated social worker if they have one, or anyone can contact a duty social worker by phoning: (For adults) (For Children s Social Work or the Criminal Justice Team) (OUT OF HOURS: For emergency social work service only available for emergencies outwith normal office hours) Page 3

4 Section 1: Getting Money 1.3 Discretionary Housing Payments Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) is a fund administered by Housing Benefit Section of the Revenues Department at Midlothian Council and are awarded to people who require additional assistance (on top of other benefits) to meet their housing costs, for example tenants affected by the Bedroom Tax can apply for a DHP. What counts as a housing cost? Usually, a housing cost would be considered to be rental costs, but it could also include: Rent in advance Deposits Other lump sum costs associated with a housing need such as removal costs. Who qualifies for a DHP? Applicants who are in receipt of Housing Benefit (HB) or Universal Credit (UC) that includes a housing element, and whose income does not cover their housing costs. What kind of shortfalls can a DHP cover? Reductions in HB or UC where the benefit cap has been applied; Reductions in HB or UC following the removal of spare room subsidy in the social rented sector (i.e. the Bedroom Tax ); Reductions in HB or UC as a result of local housing allowance restrictions; Non-dependant deductions in HB, or housing cost contributions in UC; Rent shortfalls to prevent a household becoming homeless whilst the LHA explores alternative options; DHPs can also be used to cover rent deposits and rent in advance, but DHPs can only be made to applicants who are already in receipt of Housing Benefit. What payments can DHP not cover? The following costs are excluded by the DHP regulations: Ineligible service charges Increases in rent due to outstanding rent arrears To make a payment when housing benefit is suspended To Find out more or to apply contact: Midlothian Council Revenues Section Buccleuch House, 1 White Hart Street, Dalkeith EH22 1YB revenues.enquiries@midlothian.gov.uk Telephone: Working for Families Working for Families supports parents/carers into employment, training and education. Tesco vouchers may be available for eligible parents/carers who are starting new employment and awaiting working tax credits to be processed and/or salary to be paid. Funding for initial childcare fees may be available for eligible parents/carers who are starting new employment and/or starting new childcare provider due to change of circumstances to enable parents/carers to continue with their current employment. To find out more contact Midlothian Training Services Page 4

5 Section 1: Getting Money 2. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Payments 2.1 Short Term Benefit Advances From 1 April 2013 Short term advances of benefit are available for claimants of any benefit including universal credit. They are intended for use when someone has claimed a benefit and are in financial need whilst waiting to receive it. Someone may be entitled to an advance payment if for example: They have claimed a benefit and the claim has yet to be decided, but they will only be entitled to the advance if the DWP decides they are likely to receive the benefit. They have been awarded a benefit but have not received the first payment yet. An increase in benefit is awaited, e.g. for a new partner. To receive an advance payment they need to be able to show they are in financial need, which is defined as a serious risk of damage to health or safety of the claimant or family member. Short-term benefit advances have to be repaid from future benefit payments usually within a three month period. 2.2 Hardship Payments (including if on a benefit sanction) A hardship payment is a reduced amount of income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) which someone may be able to get if their JSA is stopped due to doubts about their availability to look for work or if they are on a JSA Sanction. If they qualify for a Hardship payment it is normally paid at 60% of their usual benefit rate, or 80% if they or their partner are seriously ill or pregnant. Hardship payments are also available to ESA claimants. To receive a hardship payment they must be able to prove that without it they could be in danger of going without essentials such as food or warmth or are at risk of losing their home. No Hardship Payment is made for the first two weeks unless the claimant or a member of their household is in a vulnerable group (i.e. If they have dependant children, are pregnant, disabled or chronically sick and receive DLA or attendance allowance, or care for a disabled or sick person or a young care leaver (under 21).) 2.3 Severe Hardship Payments (16-17 year olds) JSA is for unemployed people who are 18 or over but a year old may be able to claim JSA under the Severe Hardship rules in exceptional circumstances or if they are living away from their family for good reason. To find out more or to apply contact: The Local Job Centre: Dalkeith or Penicuik (Phone: ) Page 5

6 Section 1: Getting Money 3. Social Fund (Part of DWP) Loans, Grants or Payments 3.1 Budgeting Loans The Social Fund which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions, still provides, Budgeting Loans (Minimum 100 and Maximum of 1500). A BUDGETING LOAN is an interest-free loan intended to help spread the cost of certain one-off expenses over a longer period. A Budgeting Loan can help towards the cost of various items for example, things needed for or to improve the home, clothing and footwear, travelling expenses and certain debts. Once an application is submitted a decision is usually available within one week. Budgeting loans are available to people getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (income-related), Pension Guarantee Credit, or payment on account of 1 of them for at least 26 weeks. Budgeting Loans have to be repaid. To make enquiries about a budgeting loan phone or application forms are available from the local Job Centre or can be downloaded from: (When Universal Credit is introduced Budgeting Loans will be replaced by Budgeting Advances which will work in a similar way to Budgeting Loans) 3.2 Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments The Social Fund also administers Winter Fuel payments for older people on Pension Credit and Cold Weather Payments ( 25 paid in arrears, for any seven-day period when the local temperature is on average 0 o C or below) for certain eligible working-age people on income based JSA, ESA or income support. (See section 4 on Fuel Poverty for more details) 3.3 Other Social Fund Grants or Payments Other Grants or payments available via the Social Fund include Sure Start Maternity Grants (Up to 500) for new mothers on certain benefits and funeral payments (Up to 700) for bereaved partners or parents who are on income-related benefits and need financial help to organise a funeral. (To find out about other bereavement benefits, including a one-off tax-free payment of 2000 available if your spouse or civil partner were paying National Insurance Contributions when they die, contact the DWP Bereavement service on ). To Find out more or to apply contact: Telephone enquiries to Social Fund on Page 6

7 Section 1: Getting Money 4. Other Charitable Aid (Grants) Turn-2-us: This organisation which is part of Elizabeth Finn Care provides a website with sources of information about over 3,000 Charitable Trusts who can provide financial help in the form of grants to individuals in need. To qualify for a grant from a charitable trust someone normally needs to meet specific criteria and be in a priority group for that particular Trust, for example to have worked in a particular industry, to have a specific type of illness or disability, or links to a particular area or some other connection. Anyone can search the database of Grant-giving Charities on the Turn2us Website at Or if you do not have Access to the internet you can phone their free phone helpline on which is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm Edinburgh Voluntary organisations Trust: EVOT make grants to individuals in need in Edinburgh and the Lothians, but does not accept applications directly from members of the public. Applications for individual grants must be submitted via a post holder in a Local Authority, health, or voluntary sector agency. Grants available up to a maximum of 200 for essential household or personal items. (e.g. clothing or household furnishing/bedding, etc. but not electrical items like fridges or cookers). Applications can be completed on-line at support/evot Midlothian Local Trusts/Bequests: Midlothian Council have responsibility for a number of small local trusts/bequests that can provide small grants to help people experiencing severe financial hardship and, who live in the vicinity of Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg or Loanhead. The council has recently asked local churches to administer these small funds on their behalf. Further information will be available shortly. For more details contact the March Project on Buttle UK for Children & Young People: Small Grants provide a personal and fast response to families living in crisis, when there is no one else that can help. By paying for basic items such as a cooker, fridge or bed, our grants offer relief from a critical situation. They also distribute grants through the BBC Children In Need Emergency Essentials Programme. Telephone: scotland@buttleuk.org The Family Fund: can provide grants to families with severely disabled children aged under 18 years. They can also provide grants for short breaks for families with disabled children or young people under 21, through the Take a Break Programme. For more information go to or info@familyfund.org.uk Tel Energy supplier Charitable Trusts: Some Utility companies and Energy Suppliers have formed Charitable Trusts that can provide financial help to their customers who are experiencing financial hardship and are having problems paying their energy bills and have arrears. (For more details see Section 4) Page 7

8 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice Citizen Advice Bureaux Dalkeith and Penicuik Citizen Advice Bureaux are able to provide prompt advice to people who are having benefit problems, for example if their benefit payment has been delayed or stopped for some reason or if they have been sanctioned by the Jobcentre. They can assist people to contact the Job Centre or DWP and in some cases can help people to access an immediate benefit payment, such as a short term benefit advance or hardship payment, or assist someone apply for a Crisis Grant from the SWF, Budgeting Loan or other Social Fund Payment. They can also assist people with money advice and those who are worried about letters from landlords, energy companies or other creditors threatening legal action. Employment advice is also available, and representation at employment tribunals can be arranged via the Penicuik Bureau. Home visits can be requested if someone cannot attend the Bureau due to a disability or health issue or caring responsibilities. As well as providing telephone advice, or appointments for face to face advice at the bureaux, there are a number of weekly drop-in advice sessions across Midlothian. TIMETABLE OF Citizen Advice Bureau Outreach ADVICE DROP-INS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Loanhead library 10am to 1pm Dalkeith CAB offices 10am to 12.30pm Danderhall library 10am to 12 noon Lasswade Library 09.30am to 11.30am Dalkeith CAB offices 10am to 12.30pm Loanhead Miners Welfare Centre 10am to 1pm Newbyers Medical Centre (Registered patients by appt only) Newbattle Medical Centre, (Registered patients by appt only) Dalkeith CAB Offices 10am to 12.30pm Friday To Be arranged No appointment is required, but some drop-ins can be busy so it is advisable to arrive at the start of the session if you require urgent advice and support. Contact: Dalkeith and District Citizens Advice Bureau: 8 Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith. Tel: (Phone for advice or an appointment Mon Fri 10am-12.30pm and also Mon Thurs 1 3pm ) Penicuik Citizens Advice Bureau: 14a John Street, Penicuik. Tel: (Phone for advice or an appointment: Open Mon Thurs pm and Fridays pm) Citizen Advice Direct provides free confidential telephone advice, Mon-Fri 9am to 8pm & Sat 10am to 2pm. Phone (free from landlines & most mobiles) Page 8

9 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice Midlothian Council Welfare Rights Officers: The Welfare Rights officers provide Midlothian residents with advice advocacy and oral representation at all Social Security Tribunals. They represent at 1st Tier and 2nd Tier Tribunals and ensure Midlothian residents receive free impartial advice. They can advice and provide tribunal representation for all welfare benefit appeals for example DLA and ESA. They work closely with social work, health and housing colleagues and can answer their complex benefit enquires and clarify and advice on benefit legislation regarding social law queries. Contact Senior Welfare Rights Officer: Telephone: Midlothian Macmillan Benefits Service: Telephone (For people diagnosed with cancer and their carers) Income Maximisation Officer: For Midlothian residents under 60 who receive a social work service or for anyone over 60. Telephone: MARCH Project Welfare Rights Officer Employed by Midlothian council to support people who s benefits have been affected by welfare reform, providing 1-1 support to individuals affected by welfare reform via targeted outreach advice sessions, and referrals from the Scottish Welfare Fund and other organisations working with people experiencing hardship. Outreach advice sessions available Contact March Project Welfare Rights Officer: Andy Little on Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland: Do you work with clients who have questions about benefits, tax credits or welfare reform? The contact the CPAG Advice line for frontline advisers and support workers in Scotland Tel: (Monday Thursday 10am 4pm or Friday 10am 12) Or advice@cpagscotland.org.uk Page 9

10 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice Benefit Sanctions & Getting Advice: What can someone do if they are sanctioned? JSA Sanctions normally last for a fixed period of 4, 13 or 26 weeks (but can be up to a maximum of three years), depending on the type of misconduct and/or whether it is a first, second or third time this has occurred with the past 12 months. ESA claimants may also be sanctioned. Challenging a sanction referral or decision: If a JSA claimant receives a letter from the DWP advising that they have been referred by their work programme provider for a benefit Sanction, due to failure to attend or participate, they have seven days to contact the DWP to provide a good reason as to why they did not attend or participate, before the sanction is applied by a DWP decision-maker. When sanctions are applied by the Job Centre (including for providing insufficient evidence of job search activity), the letter is usually issued during an interview with a job adviser who asks the claimant for their comments before sending the sanction referral to the DWP decision-maker. This is an opportunity to provide good reasons why they believe they should not be sanctioned, but if they believe they are being referred for a sanction unfairly or without good reason, they should also write to the DWP giving their reasons why the sanction should not be applied within 7 days. They should send their letter to the address on the letter advising them of the sanction referral. They may be able to prevent the sanction being applied, if the DWP decision maker accepts their reasons, and their payments should be reinstated without the need for a mandatory reconsideration or appeal. Once a sanction has been applied by the decision maker, the claimant can ask for a mandatory reconsideration of the decision. They can dispute both the application of the sanction and its length. They can ask for a written statement of the reasons for the sanction and in their reply they should state all their reasons for disagreeing with the sanction and provide supporting evidence when applicable. They must ask for a reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision unless they have good cause for lateness. Once they receive a new decision, if they are still not happy with it they have a month from the date of the new decision in which to appeal against it. Their appeal will be heard by an independent tribunal. Financial Support during a sanction: Whether or not they appeal, they might find themselves in hardship because of the sanction. In this situation, if the sanction is made on a claim to JSA, ESA or UC, they may be able to apply for hardship payments. Hardship payments are reduced-rate payments of JSA, ESA and UC, and as the name suggests they are designed to alleviate hardship. They are administered by the DWP, so they need to contact Jobcentre to apply for a hardship payment. The amount of hardship payments varies, as does eligibility for them: for some benefits, in some circumstances, a person must be in a vulnerable group to be eligible for a hardship payment; in other circumstances anyone can apply as long as they prove they are suffering hardship. As from April 2014 Scottish Welfare Fund guidance regarding provision of crisis and community care grants to people on benefits sanctions has been changed and individuals on benefit sanctions will be treated the same as any other applicants. Therefore if someone who is on a benefit sanction has no money to pay for their essential living costs such as food, gas and electric and other household items, they can apply for a crisis grant whilst waiting to apply for or get a decision about hardship payments. (Details about how to apply for a crisis grant are on page 2 of this guide). Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction during a sanction: the DWP will notify the Revenues Section at Midlothian Council that their benefit is stopped, so the claimant needs to contact the Council Revenues section asap to provide evidence that they have no other income to ensure their housing benefit or council tax reduction is not also withdrawn. Page 10

11 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice Sanctions and Getting Advice : If benefit claimants are sanctioned they should seek advice immediately, either from the Citizen Advice Bureau or another welfare rights advice service (see page 12), and take copies of all their notes and correspondence to the advisor. Their advisor will want to discuss the events leading up to the sanction in detail, in order to work out whether, for example, they might have had good reason for failure to meet the work-related requirement. If they are suffering hardship because of the sanction, the adviser can also assist them to make a claim for hardship payments or a SWF crisis grant Support to avoid a JSA Sanction: If someone is struggling to complete their job seeking activities in the Claimant's Commitment and is worried about the possibility of being sanctioned, it may be helpful for them to attend a Job Club. Job clubs provide support with job search, CV writing, access to computers and the internet, confidence building, etc. Midlothian Training Services: mitech job club: This runs on Monday mornings from at 1 Eskdaill court, Dalkeith. Telephone for more details. Mayfield & Easthouses Job Club: This runs on Tuesday mornings from and Thursdays from 10am-12 noon at the MAEDT Centre in Bogwood Court, Mayfield. MAEDT also have a job club at Mayfield Library every Friday from 11am-1pm. Telephone for more information. Other Employability Services: For young people (16 to 21 years old): The Bridges Project: based in Musselburgh but bus fares are available for young people attending from Midlothian, and workers can arrange to meet with young people in Midlothian. A variety of groups, advice, training and support to help young people into work are available. For more details telephone or info@bridgesproject.org.uk For parents or carers with children under 16: Working For Families: based in Dalkeith and providing support and financial help with any barriers to work/training for parents living in any part of Midlothian. For more information please telephone or mts@midlothian.gov.uk For people with learning disabilities or mental health issues: STEM: Part of Midlothian Training Services and providing services in training and employment for people with mental health or learning disabilities/difficulties who live in Midlothian. For more information telephone or mts@midlothian.gov.uk For people with problem drug or alcohol use: Access to Industry Transition Programme: Helps people (aged 16-65) in recovery from substance misuse move into education and employment. For details telephone For disabled people or those with long term conditions: LCIL Access to Work Project: funded by the government to support disabled people to take up jobs & get necessary adjustments to make employment accessible to them. For more information telephone or Amanda.beech@lothiancil.org.uk For Armed Forces & Ex-service Personnel: STEER Programme: Support, Training and Employability for ex-services Recruitment. Provided by the Mark Wright Project. For more information telephone Page 11

12 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice Welfare and Money Advice for Specific groups: For Housing Association Tenants: Melville Housing Tenants : Welfare Benefits Service Tel: or Money Advice (provided for Melville tenants by CHAI) Tel: (New referrals must be made via Melville Housing Officer Tel: ) Castle Rock Edinvar Tenants: Benefits & Money advice: Financial Inclusion Team Tel: For Carers: Vocal Midlothian Carer Centre: Money Matters surgeries. For an appointment please call Pauline Quinn on For People with disabilities: Grapevine Disability Information Service at Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living: Telephone: (or grapevine@lothiancil.org.uk ) FAIR (Family Advice & Information Resource): Kimberley@fairadvice.org.uk (Home visits can be arranged by appointment, normally Monday or Tuesday) For Children & Adults with Learning Disabilities and their carers: The Action Group Benefits and Money Matters Advice Project: Telephone (or infoandadvice@actiongroup.org.uk) For People with Sensory Impairments Deaf Action : Contact Social Work dept, Specialist Equipment, Interpreting services plus Welfare Benefits Advice for people who are deaf or have hearing loss Tel Textphone: sms/text: website: RNIB Scotland Income Maximisation Service for people who are blind or have sight loss. Tel: Lothian.benefits@rnib.org.uk. RNIB benefits helpline Tel: For people who use mental health services: CAB Advice surgery every Tuesday Afternoon at the Orchard Centre (For service users only) Contact for an appointment. CAB Advice surgery every Tuesday afternoon at the Loganlea Centre, Penicuik (By Referral only from the Joint Community Mental Health Team) For armed services and veterans: Lothians Veterans Centre (Formerly Mark Wright Project); for all ex-service personnel and their partners and families. For general and benefits advice Telephone Citizen Advice Scotland Armed Services Advice Project providing benefit, debt, employment and housing advice to serving members of the armed forces and veterans. Telephone: For Coal-mining communities: Coal Industries Social Welfare Office (CISWO) for miners and former miners and their families Tel: For Lone Parents: Choices Welfares Rights Advice Tel: (or contact the Freephone Lone Parent helpline ). 9.30am 4.30pm, Monday Friday. Page 12

13 Section 2: Welfare Rights and Money Advice How to deal with Debts: The Citizen Advice bureaux in Midlothian are able to provide information about options for dealing with debt and are approved by the Scottish Government Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and can offer debt management advice to anyone living or working (full-time) in Midlothian. To request an appointment and/or a debt information pack contact: Dalkeith CAB Or Penicuik CAB National Debtline The National Debtline can give free information to people living in England, Wales and Scotland. It also provides an information pack on dealing with debt. The line is available on Monday to Friday 9.00 to 9.00 and on Saturday to The National Debtline telephone number is and the website is StepChange Debt Charity StepChange Debt Charity is a registered charity offering free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt. StepChange Debt Charity has: a freephone helpline on where you can speak to a Debt Counsellor a website where you can get information on how to deal with your debt problems at Christians Against Poverty: (CAP-UK) CAP-UK are a Christian Charity that offers a free debt advice and management service to anyone living in Midlothian who is struggling with debts. An initial home visit appointment is usually available within 2 weeks. For further information or to request an appointment telephone (Free from landlines) or Illegal Money Lending and Loan Sharks: If someone is being threatened and feels they are in danger from a Loan Shark or illegal money lender, they can get free confidential advice from the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit, who have access to a wide range of services that can offer protection to individuals who are being threatened and also help them access local services including debt advice, income maximisation and addiction counselling. The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit can be contacted by phoning which is free to call from landlines. They are able to accept anonymous reports and can provide advice and arrange protection for individuals who feel at risk from Loan Sharks. For more information about the Scottish Illegal Money Lending unit visit the Trading Standards Scotland website at or phone Page 13

14 Section 3: Food (How to access a food parcel) If someone is without access to funds to feed themselves or their family and they do not meet the criteria for a crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund they should be able to get a food parcel, but they will need a referral. Midlothian Foodbank: Telephone Midlothian Foodbank is run by Gorebridge Parish Church (located at 96 Hunterfield Road, Gorebridge) and is part of The Trussell Trusts UK wide food bank network. The Foodbank is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm when individuals (or families) who have been referred can collect a food parcel which has enough food for three days. If transport is an issue it is also sometimes possible to arrange to collect a food parcel from one of a number of satellite agencies that host food parcels in towns across Midlothian including Penicuik CAB. Referrals are welcome from health and social care professionals and also voluntary organisations working with people experiencing hardship in Midlothian. If you want to become a referring agency please contact Janice Burns the Foodbank Co-ordinator by phone on or by to janiceburns@midlothian.foodbank.org.uk for further information. **New Midlothian Food Bank Satellite Service in Dalkeith ** From 30th June a new satellite Foodbank Service in Dalkeith at the MARC Project on North Wynd Street will be open on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm. For enquiries or referrals for the Dalkeith Satellite service please contact the Assistant Foodbank Manager, Yvette Hennessey who has specific responsibility for this location by phoning or by to yvettehennessey@midlothian.foodbank.org.uk Other churches providing food parcels to local people experiencing severe hardship include: PNK (Penicuik North Kirk) The North Penicuik Kirk currently provide food parcels to local families with children in need who are referred by the Midlothian Council Children and Families Team. Food parcels contain both perishable and non-perishable food items. At the moment the Foodstore is only taking referrals from Children and Families staff for families who are known to their service or who are in exceptional circumstances. (Enquiries to Lorraine.chapman@midlothian.gov.uk. Or call ) The Storehouse (Dalkeith and Newbattle) The Storehouse is a project run by the churches in Dalkeith and Newbattle providing food parcels for families in Dalkeith or Newbattle and surrounding areas who have been referred by the Children & Families team and also by Health Professionals. The Storehouse can deliver food parcels. For the Dalkeith Storehouse please contact Heather.Ritchie@midlothian.gov.uk for more information. For the Newbattle Storehouse please contact David.Shields@midlothian.gov.uk) Sacred Heart Church (John St, Penicuik) A pilot scheme for people experiencing severe hardship; responding to local demand. Food Parcels are available for collection between 6-7 pm on Thursday evenings. No referral required. Page 14

15 Section 4: Fuel Poverty Cold Weather Payments Cold weather payments help people on a low income with fuel costs during periods of cold weather. Each postcode area of the country is linked to a weather station and payments are made for periods of cold weather. When the weather station forecasts or records an average daily temperature of zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days, a payment will be made. The 2015 to 2016 Cold Weather Payment scheme started on 1 November 2015 and ends on the 31st March Eligibility You may be able to get Cold Weather Payments if you re getting: Pension Credit Income Support Income-based Jobseeker s Allowance (JSA) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Universal Credit If someone gets Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (income-related) during the assessment phase or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they must also receive a pensioner or disability premium or have a child who is disabled or under the age of 5. If they are getting Universal Credit, and are not employed or self-employed, they must either get the limited capability for work element (with or without a work related activity element) or have a child who is disabled or under the age of 5. They ll also be eligible if they have a disabled child element in their claim, whether they are employed or not. How much is paid? A payment of 25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. You should get a payment within 14 working days. It s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments. How to claim? You don t need to apply. If you re eligible to get a Cold Weather Payment, you ll be paid it automatically. If you don t receive your Cold Weather Payment, tell your local pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office. If you do not receive a Cold Weather Payment and think you should have received one, get in touch with Jobcentre Plus within one month of the date of the decision letter. If you contact them later they may not be able to help you. For further information go to: Winter fuel Payments Winter fuel Payments are available for older people are to help towards the cost of heating bills over the winter months and are only available to people born on or before 5th July 1952 (for winter ). Depending on your circumstances you can get between 100 and 300 tax free, which is normally paid in November or December. If you claim benefits or a state pension and/or pension credit it should be paid automatically but claim forms are available on-line at: or call the Winter Fuel Helpline on Page 15

16 Section 4: Fuel Poverty Warm Home Discount Scheme The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a Government programme which is administered by energy suppliers to provide rebates on the electricity bills to households that need it most in Scotland, England and Wales. For winter 2015 to 2016, you could get a 140 discount on your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money isn t paid to you, it s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, usually between October and March. This discount won t affect your Winter Fuel payment or Cold Weather payment. (NB: The application period for the winter of 2013/14 is now closed) Eligibility 75 or over and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit) under 75 and only getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (you won t qualify if you also get Savings Credit). Energy suppliers participating in the scheme are: (Atlantic, British Gas, Ebico, EDF Energy, E.ON, Equigas, Equipower, First Utility, manweb, M & S Energy, npower, Sainsbury s Energy, Scottish Gas, Scottish Hydro, Scottish Power, Southern Electric, SSE, Swalec and Utility Warehouse) Pre-pay or pay as you go meters can also qualify for the discount for customers who use a pre-pay or a pay as you go electricity meter. Your electricity supplier can tell you how you ll get the discount if you re eligible. For example, a voucher you can use to top up your meter. If you don t qualify under the above eligibility criteria Some suppliers including the Big Six energy suppliers also offer the discount to other vulnerable people (known as the broader group ), such as families with young children on a low income and those claiming income-based benefits such as Employment Support Allowance who are vulnerable. Each supplier has their own rules so check with the supplier if you meet their rules for broader group help and how to apply for it. You can check if your supplier offer this discount scheme to a broader group and if you meet their wider criteria at: Or you can call the Warm Home Discount Helpline on Textphone (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm) Page 16

17 Section 4: Fuel Poverty Grants available from Energy supplier Charitable Trusts Some utility companies and energy suppliers have formed Charitable Trusts that can provide financial help to their customers who are experiencing financial hardship and are having problems paying their energy bills and have arrears. If someone is in arrears with their gas or electric bills they may qualify for a grant to help them clear their fuel debt. Details of these Charitable Trusts including contact phone numbers and websites are below: British / Scottish Gas Energy Trust Eligibility: Anyone living in England, Scotland and Wales in need, hardship or other distress. Applications are welcomed from customers of all energy companies. Tel: or EDF Energy Trust Eligibility: Current domestic account holders of EDF Energy only. Tel: or Npower Energy Fund Eligibility: Current domestic account holders of npower only. Tel: or The Scottish Hydro Electric Community Trust - Offers help to customers faced with high charges for an electricity connection within the Scottish Hydro- Electric Distribution area, particularly those in rural areas. Eligibility: deserving individual domestic cases and for special community projects. Tel: or Shared Programme of Giving A number of energy companies have signed up to a Shared Programme of Giving to help people clear domestic energy debts and other essential household debts. Some of the trusts also provide Further Assistance Payments for the purchase of essential household items in exceptional cases of need. Further details available from the energy company websites. Pre-payment and Pay-as you-go Meters If someone has no money and they have run out of credit on their pre-pay gas and/or electric meter, including their emergency credit, they may be able to get a crisis grant to top up their meter (see Section 1 Getting Money page 2). If they are not eligible for a crisis grant and they have no other means of getting any money to top up their gas or electric meter they may be able to get a small amount of additional emergency credit from their energy supplier, if they are registered as a priority customer or eligible to register as a priority customer (e.g.. if they or someone in their household have an illness or disability and are on a low income or if they have young children). Usually the most additional emergency credit available would be 5 or 10, and this is only available in exceptional circumstances if someone is at risk and it would have to be paid back in the future by being added to their pre-paid tariff as a debt Page 17

18 Section 4: Fuel Poverty Telephone numbers to call for customers needing help to pay for their gas or electric for the main Energy suppliers are given below: Changeworks Affordable Warmth Service The Affordable Warmth service provides specialist advice and practical support to help people stay affordably warm in their homes. The Affordable Warmth advisors can help clients with: British (Scottish) Gas: or text phone Lines open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 6pm. EDF Energy: (Mon Fri ~ 8am 8pm, Sat ~ 8am 2pm) (Or contact the Free independent Debt Advice service for EDF customers living anywhere in the UK on free from a landline, or on from a mobile) E.ON Lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Npower: (from landlines), or (from mobiles) Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm.. Scottish Power (from landlines) or (from mobiles) Lines open Monday to Friday 8am - 7pm Saturday 8:30am - 1pm Scottish Hydro Electric: Line are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm. Understanding fuel bills and resolving errors Managing fuel debt and avoiding disconnection Understanding meter readings Access to grants for installation of measures such as insulation or new heating systems How to use your heating and hot water systems to best effect How to save money on your energy bills Understanding tariffs, switching and how to access discounts from suppliers How to reduce food waste through careful planning and preparation of food and what to do with leftovers! The service includes FREE home visits from the Affordable Warmth Advisors or advice can be given over the phone, by or by post as people prefer. Contact the Affordable Warmth team at Changeworks: Jane Adams - Referrals warmth@changeworks.org.uk Home Energy Scotland Hotline (or visit homeenergyscotland.org.uk) (Free from Landlines and most mobiles) Page 18

19 Section 5: Housing Information & Advice Housing Debt Advice If someone is worried about rent arrears or if they are behind with mortgage payments and they are worried about using their home, they should seek advice as soon as possible. They can attend a Citizen Advice Bureau Drop-in (see page 8 for details) or phone for an appointment. Dalkeith Citizen Advice Bureau or Penicuik Citizen Advice Bureau CHAI (Community Help Advice & Information) CHAI are based in Edinburgh but they can provide free advice and court representation for Midlothian residents if they are having to attend court as their landlord is seeking an eviction order for rent arrears or if their mortgage company is seeking repossession of their home. Contact CHAI Advice Service by telephone or to make an appointment to see an adviser or arrange to meet them in the court foyer. Shelter National telephone advice line (open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.) If you have a housing problem, you can call free on free from UK landlines and now free to call from all six of the main UK mobile networks. Midlothian Council Homelessness and Housing Advice Service Section 11 Notices Under Section 11 of the Homelessness (Scotland) Act 2003 all Landlords and creditors have a duty to inform the relevant local authority when they raise proceedings for possession of a property or serve certain notices relating to a mortgage. This is to give local authorities early notice of households who may be at risk of homelessness due to eviction. This enables the local authority to offer advice and assistance and invites you to contact the council to discuss your situation. If someone has been contacted by Midlothian Council s Homelessness and Housing Advice Service it is in their interests to make an appointment. Staff will aim to help prevent you becoming homeless and can also provide other support if required. Housing Options Team Staff will offer practical advice and assistance and referrals to other agencies, whilst exploring all their housing options. This includes providing a family mediation service to help address issues at home. The earlier their approach, the more help the team can offer, perhaps preventing them from becoming homeless. Midlothian Council has produced a Housing Options guide to assist customers, applicants, Council Staff and others to access up to date information on housing options in Midlothian. The Web Link is below: Alternatively, call the Housing Options Team on (0131) Page 19

20 Section 5: Housing Information & Advice Midlothian Council Rent Arrears Helpline: Council tenants who have rent arrears can contact the helpline if they have any queries regarding their arrears or if they want to set up a payment plan or request as change to a payment plan they have previously agreed with the council, for instance if they need to reduce their payments due to a reduction in their income. Rent arrears helpline number: For Housing Benefit and Council Tax enquires call: Homelessness: If someone is homeless or threatened with homelessness they should contact Midlothian Council s Homelessness and Housing Advice Service immediately at: Buccleuch House, 1 White Hart Street, Dalkeith or telephone (0131) (An emergency service is provided out of office hours by telephone on (0131) ) People presenting as homeless will by seen be a member of the Homelessness Unit Team who will ask them questions about themselves and why they may be faced with becoming homeless. If they have nowhere to stay they may be provided with emergency accommodation at once and a homeless interview on the same day or the next working day if it is outwith office hours If they are homeless but have somewhere to stay temporarily they will be offered a homeless interview within three working days. The interview will take place in a private room and will last up to an hour. You can choose to be interviewed by a male or female officer. INFORMATION TO TAKE TO A HOMELESSS INTERVIEW: Proof of your homelessness (i.e. court order, eviction notice from friends/family) Proof of income (i.e. wage slips, benefits, child benefits) Proof of ID (i.e. passport driving licence) Proof of residence (i.e. a utility bill in your name) Proof of any benefits received (i.e. child benefit/housing benefit etc.) Proof of your right to remain in the UK (If applicable) Full birth certificates for any children Bethany Christian Trust Edinburgh Care Shelter A FREE Night Shelter service in church venues is available during the winter months (From 27th October 2014 until 12th April 2015) offering food and sleeping facilities to homeless persons in the Edinburgh area. Transport provided from Waterloo Place at 9.15 and 9.30pm for those wanting to use the shelter. For more details phone (day) or (night) or download a timetable of Care shelter locations from Page 20