If you are struggling financially and would like help to manage your debts or to understand any benefits or financial support that you may be entitled to, we can help. Call us on 01276 417900 for an initial telephone appointment and, if necessary, we can arrange face to face appointments across Surrey Heath at the following venues:
Our Annual Review is now available:
If you have been a victim of fraud, don’t panic or feel ashamed – there are things you could do.
Protect yourself
If you feel threatened, call the police immediately on 999. If you have paid money in the last 24 hours or the scammer is nearby you should use 101.
After a 6 month pause, court proceedings to evict private sector tenants began again on 20th September. If you’re behind on rent payments you could be evicted.
New pandemic protection
Until at least the end of March 2021 landlords must now provide tenants with 6 months’ notice of eviction in all cases bar those with 12 months’ rent arrears or those raising other serious issues –
Most of us can’t afford to buy an “eco” home but there are things we can all do to help save the planet and save money at the same time.
Saving on energy
Pension Credit could help
Free TV licences for more than 4 million people over 75 are no longer automatic. The TV Licencing Authority will be contacting people over the next 12 months and you will need to pay £157.50 (as a lump sum or in monthly instalments) unless you are receiving Pension Credit.
By August, a million homeowners had obtained permission to defer their mortgage payments. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, mortgage lenders could not start or continue court action for repossession until at least 31 October. If you/re in arrears you should take action now to avoid repossession.
Making extra mortgage payments
You may be able to pay back what you owe by paying extra on top of your mortgage payments.
Have you been warned your employer needs to reduce their workforce and that you may be made redundant? If you are, there are rules your employer has to follow and you may be entitled to redundancy pay.
Check if your redundancy is fair
Employers selecting workers for redundancy are not allowed to discriminate by age,
During the pandemic, this year’s official Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October passed almost unnoticed – as did victims of slavery in the UK today. In March Surrey Police searched over 100 locations and made 7 arrests but they warned that “Modern slaves are often hidden in plain sight”.
The Atlantic slave trade may have been made illegal many years ago,
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that people claiming Universal Credit (UC) will begin to see a return of job-seeking requirements which were suspended. Work coaches will be calling all claimants to help them prepare for work, although what people will need to do will depend on their “Claimant Commitment.” This is a document people need to agree to as part of getting UC.
