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Prepare yourself for the biggest change to the Welfare Benefits System for over 60 years! At South Essex Homes, we want to help you to prepare for the biggest change to the UK’s Welfare Benefits System for over 60 years.
We have done the research and read through all the Government-produced documentation and picked out the bits which we think will help the residents of Southend to be prepared for the changes, which begin to come into effect from April 2013.
Many of the details of the proposed changes have yet to be released – so we will keep this webpage up to date with all the latest developments as and when they happen.
We have produced a January 2013 guide to Welfare Reform, which was posted out to all residents along with the Winter edition of Insight. Please click the link below to view an online version of this publication.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR AN AUDIO VERSION OF THE WELFARE REFORM GUIDE
The links below address the Frequently Asked Questions about the Social Sector Size Limit changes (under-occupation) and about the introduction of Universal Credit.
You will find a quick reference summary sheet about under-occupation which contains details of where you can go to find more information and we have also included a link to the area of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s website which is dedicated to Welfare Reform.
As well as this, we have added links so you can download pdf versions of leaflets South Essex Homes has produced which are relevant to this topic.
FOLLOW THE LINK 'WHERE TO GO FOR HELP AND SUPPORT' FOR A LIST OF USEFUL CONTACTS AND WEBSITES WHICH CAN HELP YOU RESEARCH HOW THE CHANGES MAY AFFECT YOU - AND GET HELP WITH MANAGING YOUR FINANCES IF YOU NEED IT.
We hope you find this information useful.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
o Universal Credit – from October 2013
o Social Sector Size Limit (under-occupation) – from April 2013.
Reference material to be read in conjunction with these FAQs:
§ FACTSHEET: Renting out your spare room
§ FACTSHEET: The effect additional income will have on your Housing Benefit
§ FACTSHEET: Making a claim for Discretionary Housing Payments
You may also like to click here to view answers to the Welfare Reform Frequently Asked Questions, as produced by HQN (Housing Quality Network)
Need extra financial help?
You may qualify for a grant from the Essential Living Fund (E.L.F.).
WELFARE REFORM DROP-IN SESSIONS
We will keep this section updated with details of forthcoming drop-in sessions, where Southend residents can speak to members of staff from South Essex Homes and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to find out how Welfare Reform will affect them.
There are no sessions planned at present.
Click on title to view pdf version of South Essex Homes’ leaflets:
· Are you Under-Occupying? Important changes to Welfare Reform (produced July 2012)
· Under-Occupation (produced November 2011)
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA BOROUGH COUNCIL
Click on title to view pdf version of leaflets produced by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council:
· Universal Credit
· Welfare Reform Bill
· Personal Independence Payment
· Other Benefit Changes from April 2012
· Other Benefit Changes from April 2013
· Housing Costs and Pensioners
You may also wish to click here to be taken to the Council's webpages regarding Welfare Reform, which includes step-by-step information of how the changes will be phased in over the coming years.
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