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Money Advice Works We’re delighted to announce that the number of advisers in our Financial Inclusion Team has doubled in size from three to six! Thanks to a grant secured from the Making Advice Work scheme of the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB), we have recruited to three new full time posts in addition to the three welfare rights advisers already in place. The new advisers are
qualified to give advice about welfare benefits and money advice including debt issues. The SLAB funding package is for an 18 months period and started in January. This is a much needed boost to our advice services which have been under pressure as a result of the welfare reforms and harsh economic conditions that have affected tenants.
The Financial Inclusion Team – who are they and what do they do? Our 6 advisers are: Adviser Main type of advice offered Kathy Coghlan Welfare rights Steven Craig Welfare rights Gemma Hagan Welfare rights Christine Church Money and debt advice and welfare rights Patricia Hanlon Welfare rights and money/debt advice John McGuigan Welfare rights and money/debt advice
John McGuigan, Patricia Hanlon and Christine Church have now joined the Financial Inclusion Team
How to get advice If you want to get advice about welfare benefits or debt, please call 0141 945 3003 and ask for a welfare rights or debt advice appointment. Your call will be connected to the Customer Services Administration Assistants who can arrange an appointment for you. Appointments are available at the following locations: • Queen’s Cross, 45 Firhill Road • Woodside Hub, 65 Cedar Street • The Courtyard, 2 Westercommon Drive
• Dundasvale office, 6 Dundasvale Court 1-1 Ask for an appointment at the office nearest to you when you call. House visits: If you can’t leave your house and need a home visit, ask about this when you call. Your contact details will be passed to an adviser who will get in touch to arrange a visit if needed.
Want advice from another agency in Glasgow? For free advice call GAIN (Glasgow’s information and advice network) on 0808 801 1011 (Mon - Fri 10am – 8pm and Sat 10am - 2pm). Website: www.gain4u.org.uk
Energy savings for you Need a little help with your fuel bills? The Warm Home Discount Scheme could be for you. The 5 year programme has been designed to provide assistance
with fuel bills to low income and vulnerable households, offering eligible customers a one-off payment on their electricity bill. For winter 2013-14 this was a sum
of £135, received as a discount on electricity accounts or as a voucher, for those with prepayment meters. There are two groups eligible for the scheme:
Core Group
Broader Group
To qualify for this group you must be: • Aged 75 or over and receiving Pension Credit • Aged under 75 and receiving only the Guaranteed element of Pension Credit (no Savings Credit) Those in the Core Group will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions letting them know of their eligibility.
The Broader Group is decided differently. Each energy supplier sets their own criteria, with the majority of companies aiming the support at households living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. Households must then submit an application directly to their supplier. The criteria may cover those: • On income related benefits • On low incomes • Receiving Child Tax Credit • With a family member in receipt of a disability premium, DLA or PIP
If you think you might be eligible and want to apply for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, our Financial Inclusion team can help you to check if you fit the criteria and to submit your application. While the scheme has now closed for applications for Winter 2013-14, most suppliers will be accepting applications for Winter 2014-15 from May 2014
onwards, so don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more. You can contact the financial inclusion team on 0141 945 3003 or financialinclusion@qcha.org.uk. Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline Telephone: 0845 603 9439 Monday to Friday - 8.30am to 4.30pm
Want to know more about welfare benefits?
We’re here to help. Want to know more
Want to know more about welfare benefits? Our welfare rights team provide free, confidential about welfare benefits? advice to Queens Cross Housing tenants.
We’re here to help.
We’re here to help. We’re here to help. Queens Cross Housing Association, 45 Firhill Road, Glasgow G20 7BE t: 0141 945 3003 e: contactus@qcha.org.uk w: www.qcha.org.uk
Our welfare rights team provide free, confidential advice to Queens Cross Housing tenants. Want to know more about welfare benefits? Queens Cross Housing Association, 45 Firhill Road, Glasgow G20 7BE t: 0141 945 3003 e: contactus@qcha.org.uk w: www.qcha.org.uk
Our welfare rights team provide free, confidential advice to Queens Cross Housing tenants. Queens Cross Housing Association, 45 Firhill Road, Glasgow G20 7BE t: 0141 945 3003 e: contactus@qcha.org.uk w: www.qcha.org.uk