Grantham: South Kesteven District Council - Cost of living support for families

To ensure that residents have access to all the information they need, SKDC is sharing facts and pointers on a wide range of help and support available that could benefit them, a relative, friend or neighbour.

SKDC Cost of Living Support

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

Leuchars: Social Security Scotland at the Community Centre

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Social Security Scotland will be holding a clinic in the Community Centre on Thursday's 1:00-5:00pm every fortnight.

DWP update - third 'Help for Households' cost of living payment

 

Millions of people on means-tested benefits will receive the third of 3 Cost of Living Payments, which taken together, could total up to £900 over this financial year 2023-2024.

The first 2023 payment of £301 was paid between 25 April and 17 May, the second payment of £300 was paid between 31 October and 19 November and the third payment of £299 will be paid between 6 and 22 February.

The payment is for people on a qualifying means-tested benefit, who were entitled to payment during the qualifying period 13 November to 12 December 2023, or a payment for an assessment period ending within the qualifying period. The qualifying benefits include: Universal Credit, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support, and tax credits: Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

Easier registration and claims process for Wraparound Childcare (WAC)

 

From 19 February 2024 the way that personnel register and claim WAC funding is changing. The process will be fully integrated within JPA and will be much simpler to use.

• Personnel that are currently registered will receive an email from the WAC team explaining what this means for them.

• Personnel that haven't yet registered but may be eligible should note that registrations will freeze from 31 January 2024 until the switch over on 19 February 2024.

• Personnel that register between 19 February and 31 March 2024 will be able to backdate their registration to 1 February 2024, subject to eligibility.

Where can you find further information?

• Read the FAQs or visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or Defence Connect

• Visit the Discover My Benefits webpage or contact the HIVE, and Army Families Federation information sites.

• Look out for more updates, on defnet and Defence Connect.

• If you have any further questions you can email the WAC team at PEOPLE-AFFS-WAC-FRO-mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Serve and Protect Credit Union launch limited-time Fixed Saver account, offering a guaranteed return of 5% AER

Are you looking to earn a guaranteed return on your savings? Serve and Protect Credit Union have launched their latest fixed-rate savings account.

​Serve and Protect Credit Union (formerly Police Credit Union) are a not-for-profit organisation designed to help people in the police, prison, military, fire, and health services save money for their financial future.

• Their Fixed Saver account allows you to deposit from £1,000 up to £10,000, with a guaranteed return of 5% AER over a term of 12 months.

• Your savings with Serve and Protect Credit Union are also protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, covering you up to £85,000.

By opening a Fixed Saver, you not only earn a competitive return on your savings, but you also play a vital role in providing affordable loans to those who serve and protect the nation.

Don't miss out on this exclusive offer! It's available on a first-come-first-served basis, so act fast. The product is available throughout January and just requires you to complete a simple application online.

Please Note: If you are not already a member of Serve and Protect, you can still apply, but you will have to do so by the 26th of January 2024.

To apply or learn more about the Fixed Saver, visit: https://serveandprotectcu.co.uk/save/fixed-saver/

Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) updates

Child Benefit update and childcare support

Child Benefit customers can now view and update their bank account details quickly and easily using the HMRC app or report changes that affect their Child Benefit on GOV.UK, to make sure their payments go to the right place.

In the app, customers can go to the Child Benefit section and select ‘Change bank details’.

Using the new online service, customers’ bank details can be viewed and updated instantly with no need to contact HMRC. Payments that are due within 3 days will be credited to the customer’s previously listed account.

Rushmoor: Cost of Living Help

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

KCC: The Kent Money Advice Hub

 

'People go to the Money Advice Hub  with a lot on their shoulders, and they finish the call with an instant sense of relief and an increase in confidence.'

Are you worrying about money? The Kent Money Advice Hub could help you.

 
https://loom.ly/NFlSts8

Information provided by Chatham HIVE

Defence People Communications - get financial help if you have children with child benefit

Did you know that parents can claim child benefit to help with the cost of raising children? Find out if you’re eligible and how to make a claim.

With the rising cost of living, the Government are offering parents and carers up to £1,248 a year to help with the cost of raising their first child – and up to £826.80 for any other children. This means that by the time a child is 16 years old, their child benefit claim could be worth almost £20,000.

Northern Ireland: NIdirect Cost of Living Information and Advice

Information and advice about support with the cost of living, including:
• help with energy costs
• help with your income
• help for families and children
• help for older people
• help with housing
• help with other costs
Find out more: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/cost-of-living
Jobs & Benefits Northern Ireland

Information provided by NI HIVE

Scotland: Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged under 16

Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged under 16. 

You can apply for the payment of £100 every 4 weeks if you - get Universal Credit, tax credits or other qualifying benefits - have a child or children aged under 16.

If you already get Scottish Child Payment for your child under 6 then you do not need to reapply.

If you’ve older children you can add them to your existing Scottish Child Payment.

Find out more about Scottish Child Payment and other benefits you may be entitled to at 

How to apply - mygov.scot

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

DWP Conversational Platform

 

Conversational Platform is a new technology being introduced onto the Universal Credit telephony channel. From early December 2023 when customers call Universal Credit, their call may be routed through the new technology, whereby the DWP Virtual Agent will ask the customer why they are calling and will then tailor the response based on what the customer says.

Please click the image above for further details.

Vale of Glamorgan: Cost of Living Hub

We have a host of useful information in our online Cost Of Living Hub to help alleviate financial pressures:

Grants and benefits

Housing and energy

Help with food

Support for families

Health and wellbeing

Help with employment

To access the Vale of Glamorgan Cost of Living support and further information please click here.

Information provided by St Athan HIVE

Grantham: B.Hive Community Financial Wellbeing

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Moray: Citizens Advice Bureau Empower Project, cost of living assistance

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Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Kent Police: Fraud Alerts

Kent Police has issued alerts to raise awareness of 5 frauds that are currently circulating.

Read more 

Information provided by Chatham HIVE

Wiltshire: Worrying about money? Support is available in Wiltshire

Please click the image above to enlarge the poster, or for further details please click here

Other resources available include:

Warm & Safe Wiltshire

Wiltshire Council - supporting you through the rising cost of living

Community Food Providers in Wiltshire

Wiltshire Together

Citizens Advice Wiltshire

Blue Cross Pet Food Banks (other local options may be available in your nearest town or village - please check local Facebook groups)

Please note that those living in SFA will not able to utilise all of the support on offer. For example if your heating system is broken or faulty, please contact Pinnacle to report the issue

Information provided by Colerne and Lyneham HIVE's

Moray: CAB Moray now have a designated adviser to assist with the cost of living.

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Moray CAB now have a designated adviser to assist with the cost of living.
Are you struggling with the cost of living? Need a benefit check? Have utility issues? These are only a few things we can assist you with and, if the answer is yes, then drop in and see us during our bureau opening hours. We're here to help.🤝

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Help stop young people falling victims to loan sharks

Recent research has shown that a higher proportion of people in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket are at particular risk of being targeted by loan sharks in the current climate. More young people are having financial services or products refused by mainstream banks and many are being forced to borrow from friends and family to make ends meet.

With this in mind, Stop Loan Sharks want to highlight the services offered by credit unions, producing a new grime music video in conjunction with Find Your Credit Union and Nourish Social in the hope that it will appeal to young people and show them that other options that are available. Click the image below to watch the video online.

Service Personnel can also utilise the Joining Forces Credit Unions, supported by the MOD to make saving simple and loans more affordable to the Armed Forces community.

New consultation launched - Child Maintenance: Accelerating Enforcement

 

A new consultation has launched this week seeking views on proposed legislative changes to speed up enforcement of child maintenance arrears, reducing the time it takes from almost six months to six to eight weeks.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will be able to use an administrative liability order to recover unpaid child maintenance instead of applying to the courts and facing a lengthy wait.

The CMS helps around 930,000 children get the financial support they are entitled to and between June 2022-2023 arranged £1.2 billion on their behalf. Overall, child maintenance payments help to keep 160,000 children out of poverty each year.

The consultation is open to voluntary and community sector organisations, as well as CMS customers and members of the public. It applies to England, Wales and Scotland, although comments are welcomed from across the United Kingdom.

The consultation closes at 11:45pm on Friday 24 November.

​Find out more and access the consultation here