As a result of the joint works between Irwell Valley Housing Association and Trafford MBC the residents of our Sale West estate have a new found faith in our services and housing benefit advice. This has now led to new Housing Benefit claims being assessed quicker and more efficiently by Simon Hartley at the Housing Benefit Surgery, Sale West Community centre every Tuesday.
Any ongoing housing benefit and other benefit issues in Sale and the Trafford area are being looked after by Trafford MBC's Community Benefit Uptake Officer, Margaret Ozturk, which from the case studies below, can be of great financial benefit to vulnerable residents.
If you would like to arrange a visit from Natalie Steele, Irwell Valley's enforcement office please ring 01204 454902 or 07818046011. To book an appointment at our Housing Benefit Surgery running every Tuesday at Sale West Community Centre then please call 0800 035 2211.
Case study number one:
Natalie Steele, Irwell Valley's Enforcement Officer, contacted Margaret Ozturk of Trafford MBC during a routine home visit, as it became clear that the resident was vulnerable.
The resident thought that her rent was being paid through housing benefit when it actually wasn't. Natalie advised her of the level of arrears she had build up and that Irwell Valley were due to take her to court. Natalie then arranged a home visit with Margaret for the following week to assess the resident’s situation and as a result a new accurate claim was completed and verified with a backdated request for housing benefit.
The resident had previously been awarded Disabled Living Allowance; however this had been ended due to Trafford MBC's housing benefit team being advised that the resident had four non-dependants living at the property. As a result her benefit was changed to income support.
Irwell Valley had since received a court date but to allow for the housing benefit to process the case was adjourned, Margaret then assisted the resident in completing her application for DLA which she was then reissued.
The arrears at the time of the court hearing were at a level where the association would request possession in 28 days, but due to Natalie and Margaret's intervention the claim was backdated to cover the period of 26th April 2010 to 12th September 2010 giving her a total of £1634.20 in housing benefit. This then secured her tenancy and allowed Irwell Valley to adjourn the court hearing and no further action was taken, the resident is now in a much better financial position as her housing benefit fully covers her rent.
Case study number two:
It was discovered that this particular resident was vulnerable and a lone parent with several health problems and was being served with an eviction notice due to her rent arrears, her health problems only became worse due to her financial issues.
On visiting the resident, Natalie Steele, Irwell Valley's Enforcement Officer, reviewed the residents income and expenditure as her rent arrears amounted to £1000, due to the resident’s circumstances and high arrears, Natalie arranged a home visit with Margaret Ozturk of Trafford MBC.
Margaret reviewed the resident’s income and expenditure again and found that she had been making overpayments which were being taken from her benefit which as a result had been reduced to £10.00 a week. This meant that the resident had to meet some of the cost of her rent herself a total amounting to £19.86 per week.
Due to the new information on the residents circumstances Irwell Valley made an agreement to suspend the eviction. Following Natalie and Margaret's investigations the customer is now coping with her finances and is making regular payments to reduce the amount of arrears she owes to IVHA.
If you would like to arrange a visit from Natalie Steele, Irwell Valley's enforcement office please ring 01204 454902 or 07818046011. To book an appointment at our Housing Benefit Surgery running every Tuesday at Sale West Community Centre then please call 0800 035 2211.