Photo ID now required to vote in elections

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Voters in Swindon will need to show an approved form of photo ID in order to vote at a polling station in the borough and parish elections on Thursday, 4 May.

The change follows new UK-wide legislation introduced by the Government in the Elections Act 2022.

Accepted forms of photo ID include passports, photographic driving licences, biometric immigration documents and some concessionary travel passes.

People can still use their photo ID if it’s out of date, as long as it looks like them. The name on their ID should be the same name they used to register to vote.

Anyone who does not have accepted photo ID can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate

(VAC).

Those voting by proxy will need to ensure that the person going to vote on their behalf takes their own ID, and not ID for the person they are voting for. Postal voting procedures will remain the same.

Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate can be made online at voterauthority-certificate.service. gov.uk

To apply for the VAC by post, people should call

Swindon Borough Council on 01793 445500.

To apply in person they should visit the Civic Offices in Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH on any working day between 09.30am and 4pm.

More information about voter identification and further details on how to apply for the Voter Authority Certificate can be found on Swindon Borough Council’s website: www. swindon.gov.uk/voterid

Borough council says benefits are going unclaimed

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Swindon Borough Council says people making sure to claim benefits they’re entitled to can help to tackle the cost of living crisis.

It is estimated that £15bn in benefits goes unclaimed each year.

This includes 1.3m families who don’t take up an offer of up to £2,000 a year for childcare costs, and around 850,000 eligible households who are missing out on Pension Credit, worth an average of £1,900 a year. Could you be one of them?

Taking a few minutes to use one of the online benefits calculators could open the door to hundreds of pounds extra per month for food, bills and fuel – just search ‘benefits calculator’ online.

A list of 19 measures which can potentially help with the cost of living is available on the council’s website at www. swindon.gov.uk/costofliving

Some of the measures signposted include:

- Pension Credit, which tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £182.60 a week for single pensioners or £278.70 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who have reached State

Allowance and/or an extra amount called the ‘carer element’ within Universal Credit, which could mean £69.70 a week in Carer’s for opening times, www. citizensadviceswindon.org.uk, or call 0808 278 7813. Getting certain meanstested benefits can also open the door to the several new cost of living payments expected throughout this coming year.

This includes £900 for means-tested benefit claimants that will go direct to bank accounts in three payments over the financial year.

Pension age, and live in Great Britain

- If Housing Benefit or Universal Credit doesn’t cover all your rent, check to see if you can make a claim for a discretionary housing payment

- Swindon residents of working age who claim means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), may be eligible to apply for Council Tax Support, which pays up to 80% of your council tax bill

- If you’re a carer, you may be entitled to Carer’s

Allowance

- If you or your child receive certain benefits, you can apply for free school meals from Year 3 and above

It’s worth taking five minutes to check if you’re missing out on anything which you’re entitled to.

The benefits system can be confusing, so get in touch with Citizens Advice Swindon before you make an application – they can increase the chances of getting accepted. Citizens Advice Swindon also offers in-person advice, so check their website

Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time, but will be spread across a longer period to provide support throughout the year. Those eligible can expect to receive:

- First Cost of Living Payment of £301 during Spring 2023

- Disability Payment of £150 during Summer 2023

- Second Cost of Living Payment of £300 during Autumn 2023

- Pensioner Payment of £300 during Winter 2023/4

- Third Cost of Living Payment of £299 during Spring 2024