What we mean when we talk about rent

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Help and support

Paying your rent Claiming benefits

Looking for work

Useful numbers Useful phrases

www.yhn.org.uk

Useful phrases • Have you made a Universal Credit claim? When did you make your claim? What date will you next receive your Universal Credit payment?

• As a tenant you must pay your rent. If you don’t pay your rent you could be evicted.

• When claiming Universal Credit you need to pay your rent yourself from your single monthly payment.

• Your rent is payable each week in advance. When will you be making your next rent payment?

• Do you have a bank account? Can I set up a Direct Debit for your rent now so you can regularly pay your rent?

Useful phrases • We are applying to the courts for a possession order on your home as you have not paid your rent.

• You need to make an appointment to attend the Jobcentre.

• Do you have an email address? Can I book you onto a training course to help you use a computer?

• Do you need help with budgeting? We have Advice and Support workers who could help you.

• Do you need help looking for work? I can refer you to our Employability Team.

Paying your rent Rent The money you have to pay each week to live in your home and which covers the cost of repairs and other services.

Rent statement This shows your weekly rent charge, payments you’ve made and any adjustments to your account like Housing Benefit and Alternative payment arrangements.

Bank account Place where you keep your money that you can pay things in and out from.

Direct Debit (DD)) The way you can pay your rent straight out of your bank account to YHN on a agreed day each week, fortnight or month. This is YHN’s preferred method of payment.

Bank statements A record of the balance in a bank account and the amounts that have been paid into it and withdrawn from it, sent regularly to the holder of the account holder.

Swipe card A card provided by YHN that you can use to pay your rent at either a Post Office or Paypoint.

Paypoint Is a safe way of paying your rent in local shops or Post Office using a swipe card.

Rent arrears Money which you owe to YHN because you have not paid the rent due.

Court action YHN will take court action against you to end your tenancy if you do not pay your rent and fall into significant arrears.

Judge The person who considers your case at court and decides whether you can keep your home or be evicted.

Absolute Possession Order (APO) This where the judge tells you to leave your home immediately or after 28 days.

Postponed Possession Order (PPO) This is where the judge lets you stay in your home as long as you pay your rent regularly. You will be asked to work with YHN officers and other people who can help you.

Eviction / evicted This is what could happen if you do not pay your rent. You will be ordered to move out of your home.

Claiming benefits Benefit

Job Seekers Allowance

Money or other support provided by the government to people who meet specific needs.

This is an unemployment benefit paid to people who are unemployed and actively seeking work.

Universal Credit (UC) The benefit which has replaced housing benefit, child tax credit, working tax credit, income support, income based jobseekers allowance and income related employment support allowance.

DWP Department for Work and Pensions – the government organisation which manages benefits.

HMRC Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is a department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes and the payment of some forms of state support.

Income Support This is an income related benefit for people who are on a low income.

National insurance number Your personal number used by the government in the administration of National Insurance as part of the tax system. You need this number at hand to apply for UC.

Housing Benefit Money paid towards your rent depending on your income and savings.

Housing Costs Payment you receive to pay your rent.

Child Tax Credit

Personal Allowance

This benefit is available to you depending on the number of dependent children you have in your family and your income.

The amount of money you have left once your other costs such as your housing costs have been taken out of your UC payment.

Working Tax Credit

Council Tax Support or Council Tax Reduction

You can get this benefit if you or your partner is working enough hours a week and your income is low enough.

Employment Support Allowance This is form of benefit paid by the government to people who are unable to work because of an illness or disability.

You will get a deduction from your Council Tax bill if you apply and are eligible.

Help and support Helpline A telephone number to ring when you need some help and advice.

Income Recovery Officer The officer from YHN who manages your rent account and supports you in keeping your tenancy.

Sustaining tenancies meeting (STM) Where a group of officers from various agencies talk about your case with you to help ensure you can pay your rent and continue to live in your home.

Managed payment to landlord (MPTL)

Advice and Support Worker (ASW)

The DWP send your housing costs payment directly to YHN each month.

A specialist YHN officer who can help you with various financial aspects of your tenancy.

Third Party Deductions (TPD) The DWP send 10% or 20% of your personal allowance to YHN each month to repay arrears on your rent account.

Alternative payment arrangement (APA) Employability Team When your UC Housing costs are paid directly to Your Homes Newcastle.

This is temporary until you are able to budget and manage your finances.

Personal Budgeting Support Support given to you to help you manage your household money.

Team in YHN that supports tenants to find to work.

ESOL Courses English for Speakers of Other Languages training courses.

Looking for work Jobcentre The place you need to attend to discuss your benefit claim with your job coach.

Sanction Your entitlements have stopped due to a penalty being imposed.

UC Journal An online log that you use to keep up to date with your UC claim and keep in contact with the DWP.

Assessment period The monthly period over which your earnings are considered so the DWP can work out how much your UC payment will be.

Pay date The day each month when you will receive your UC payment.

Apply online Registering by going on the internet and filling out a form.

Email address This will allow you to send and receive information and messages online.

Password I Pin number

Memorable confidential word or number that allows you access to your personal information like your rent account.

Security questions Personal information that ensures your claim is safe from fraud.

Pay slips Note given to an employee when they have been paid, detailing the amount of pay given, and the tax and insurance deducted.

Self-employment form

A form that you complete to register that you work for yourself.

Photo identification A photograph of your face that you use as a form of personal identification.

Useful numbers • Council Tax/Housing Benefit

0191 278 7878

• Advice and Support Team

0191 277 1144

• Your local housing office

0191 278 8600

• DWP/Universal Credit customer service centre

Freephone 0800 328 5644

• YHN’s Employability Team

0191 278 8600

• YHN’s Young People’s Service

0191 277 1190

• Newcastle College

0191 200 4000

• Digital training courses at Newcastle Central Library

0191 277 4100

• Citizen’s Advice Bureau

0344 245 1288

• HMRC Tax Credits

0345 300 3900

www.yhn.org.uk