Cost of Living Advice: One Stop Shop

1st November 2022

Over the last few months we have been sharing with our residents and staff all the information and advice we have gathered or been sent about managing the cost of living and where to access support. There are numerous organisations and charities offering help so to enable our residents and staff to find the details more easily we have created this webpage as a `One Stop Shop` which we will keep updated with any new information as we get it.

Cost of Living – News

From Monday, 28 November – Warm Hubs at Whiteley Village
Next week our charity will be launching two Warm Hubs at Whiteley Village – one open to all and one just for Whiteley residents. Warm Hubs are being established in communities across the UK to enable people to gather together somewhere out of the cold and avoid soaring heating bills at home. We will be offering free hot drinks, books and puzzles in the following locations at Whiteley Village:

  • Clubhouse Foyer, Octagon Road, Whiteley Village
    Open to ALL – Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
  • Huntley House Old Staff Room
    Open to Whiteley Village residents ONLY every day from 10.00am to 4.00pm

 

21 November – Foodbank referrals now available at Whiteley Village: In most cases you need to be referred to a foodbank before you can use one and this includes all foodbanks run by the Trussell Trust. We’re pleased to tell you that The Whiteley Homes Trust is now a referral agency to the Trussell Trust foodbank in Walton and Hersham, and both residents and our staff can seek a referral for themselves and any family member they live with, including a partner.

Lisa da Silva is our referring adviser and she will talk through your individual circumstances, explaining the key principles and the foodbank’s qualifying criteria. This will enable her to complete a referral for you and issue you with an electronic referral voucher.  You can then take this voucher to the foodbank where it will be exchanged for a three-day food parcel. Please contact Lisa at lisa.dasilva@whiteleyvillage.org.uk or 01932 550743, or any member of the Housing & Support team to set up an appointment as required. (You can also get referred by Citizens Advice, your GP or a social worker if you wish.) If you need help for longer than three days, there will be advisers from the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Trussell Trust at the foodbank centre, who can discuss this with you.

17 November – Government Autumn Statement: Age UK have summarised some of the ways in which the Government’s recent budget announcement might affect older people’s finances and benefits, and you can read more about it here 

3 November – Millions missing out on cheaper broadband: Millions of people on benefits are missing out on cheaper broadband tariffs because firms are failing to promote them properly, according to Ofcom. Social tariffs are low-cost broadband deals offered to customers on benefits and cost about £15 a month but only about 3% of those eligible are on one. All of those in receipt of Universal Credit are eligible, although some providers extend eligibility to those in receipt of other benefits, such as Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. According to `Which`, customers could save around £140 a year by switching. Call your current supplier to find out more or visit the Ofcom website here:https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs

The Whiteley Homes Trust Guide to Benefits: According to Which, over 7 million households could be missing out on the benefits they are entitled to, with £15bn going unclaimed each year. Our Housing & Support team have produced this handy Benefits Guide explaining which ones are available, the rules that apply to them and how you can make a claim. Please note, this information is only intended as a guide and so we recommend you seek expert advice from one of the local or national helplines and/or information services listed at the end of the booklet.

Local support and advice on wellbeing, benefits & finances

  • Across Surrey:
    • Surrey County Council: Advice and information available in our county can be found here: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/health-and-welfare/support
    • SCC Community Helpline: If you can’t find what you need on the Surrey CC advice pages, you can contact their helpline on 0300 200 1008 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays) or complete a community helpline enquiry form 
    • Age UK – Surrey: Local advice is available for older people on 01483 503414 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 4.45pm) or email: enquiries@ageuksurrey.org.uk


National support and advice

  • Managing energy and help with bills – advice from Ofgem: If you are struggling with energy costs, there’s practical advice and information available from energy watchdog Ofgem in their Help With Bills guide. You can also get help from your supplier: the Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations. Also don’t forget the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme which aims to help people deal with rising bills as some people are still not claiming all the support they are entitled to. You can find out more about all of this and more on Ofgem’s website: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/get-help-your-supplier-priority-services-register  or call Ofgem on: 020 7901 7295.
  • Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848 or visit citizensadvice.org.uk
  • MoneyHelper: Government backed free advice on finances and pensions at: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk or call 0800 138 777
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