Local Committee 1 Advice Link Partnership Sutton - ALPS LB Sutton - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sutton South, Cheam & Belmont Local Committee 1

Advice Link Partnership Sutton - ALPS LB Sutton Contract ALPS provided by: Citizens Advice Sutton Sutton Carers Centre Age UK Sutton 2

Citizens Advice Sutton contract with LB Sutton Substantial ‘added value’ from services funded by other sources, including Sutton Library & Heritage Services and from contribution of volunteers One phone number – 020 8254 2616 to access multiple services One website – www.suttonalps.org.uk for information and contact Multiple locations providing information and access 3

Other partners British Sign Language Advice Live well Sutton Uplift Advicelink partner agencies: Sutton Mental Health Foundation, Refugee Migrant Network Sutton Other local voluntary organisations 4

Enquiry Types 5

Welfare Benefit enquiries Passported Benefits 0% Council Tax Income Support Benefit Reduction 1% cap Pension Credit 3% 0% 3% Social Fund Loans General Other 8% 1% 13% Social Welfare Housing Benefit 1% 8% Child Benefit PIP 2% 15% Tax Credits 7% AA JSA UC 5% 3% 14% ESA Retirement 11% Pension 0% Incapacity DLA Benefit 1% Carers Allowance 0% 2% 6

Housing enquiries Other Neighbourhood General 12% 15% 10% Owner occupier 9% Homelessness 16% Private rented 27% Temporary accommodation 2% Housing Association LA 6% 3% 7

Debt enquiries Bankruptcy & DRO Mortgage & Loans Tax arrears 1% General 4% Fuel debts Other 1% 7% 11% 5% Utilities Payday loans 2% 2% Benefit overpayments 8% Rent 13% Parking penalty 4% Water supply 6% Council tax 16% Credit cards 11% Mail order 1% Unsecured loans 4% Child maintenance Court fines 1% 3% 8

Financial gains for clients Other Relationships Financial Gains - total £52,000 (charitable (child payments) maintenance) 2% 4% Debts (Housing arrears) 30% Benefits (PIP/CA/PC ) 64% 9

Ethnicity Asian Or Asian British - Asian Or Asian British - Asian Or Asian British - Asian Or Asian British - Pakistan Indian Other Bangladesh 3% 4% 5% 4% Declined to reply 1% Black Or Black British - African White - Other 8% 10% Mixed - White & Black African 1% White - English 1% Mixed - Other 0% Black Or Black British - Caribbean 0% Other - Arab 3% White - British 60% 10

Age 85-94 1% 65-74 7% 75-84 3% 16-24 6% 25-34 22% 55-64 15% 45-54 21% 35-44 25% 11

Faith and belief Buddhist 4% Hindu 4% Any other 4% No religion 23% Christian 58% Muslim 7% 12

Accommodation type Staying with Buying Home7% relatives/friends 4% Council/ALMO tenant Shared Ownership 11% 1% Hostel 1% Housing Private Tenants 38% Association/RSL Tenant 12% Own outright 21% Other 5% 13

Relationship Status Divorced 8% Cohabiting 4% Single 39% Married 42% Separated 7% 14

Case study (1) 15

Case study (2) Enquiry Area Debt Client profile Client is 54 year old male living in Housing Association property. Client stopped working around 15 months previously due to ill health. Problem Client had rent arrears, utility arrears, Council Tax arrears – debt with Enforcement Agents. Client does not have a TV licence and has been approached by the TV Licensing. How CAS helped CAS debt adviser helped Client deal with these arrears and advised Client to negotiate payment plans wherever possible. Adviser also explained to Client option to make application for a Debt Relief Order and its implications. Assisted Client to make application to Charisgrants to get help with utility arrears. 16

Case study (3) Enquiry Area Financial Client is 50 year old lady, severely disabled as a result of an Client profile accident and therefore unable to work Problem Client was in need of financial help with essential items of furniture which needed replacing, as well as replacement flooring as a result of damage to carpet caused by the use of her mobility scooter. How CAS helped CAS adviser assisted Client with application for grant through the Sutton Nursing Association. Client was awarded £699 for a ‘back care’ single bed and mattress, although the application for replacement flooring was declined. 17

Case study (4) Enquiry Area Housing Client profile Client is 44 year old lady living on her own in Housing Association property since her mother died in 2014. Client has mental health issues and her daughters were living with her ex partner. Problem Client was faced with a Possession Hearing on her property as a result of substantial rent arrears. Client’s mother had been managing the finances when she was alive, Client was therefore unaware of her financial commitments insofar as rent was concerned. CAS Adviser explained the Possession process to Client and suggested How CAS helped that she may be considered as Priority homeless as one of her daughters was then living with her. Client may also be able to avoid possible eviction by making proposal to repay arrears. Referred Client to CAS Specialist Housing Solicitor for support with eviction defence. 18

Case study (5) Enquiry Area Benefits Client profile Client is 64 year old man who moved in with his 91 year old mother with health issues to care for her Problem Cl needed advice on his financial position, in particular whether he should continue to live with his mother to look after her, or accept the offer of a job and rely on Social Services to look after his mother. How CAS helped CAS adviser advised Client on welfare benefits including Discretionary Housing Payment to help with rent shortfall, so that the client could care for his mother. 19

www.suttonalps.org.uk 020 8254 2616 20