The Housing Executive has announced expansion of its financial inclusion team which works with tenants who are experiencing trouble with benefits, money and debt.
There are currently three officers working across the three Housing Executive Regions, - Michael Lyttle, Sinead Lagan and Niamh Kelly. More staff are being recruited now to build the service as demand for services grows with the cost of living crisis.
North West regions inclusion officer Michael, spoke with pride as he described the last two years in the new role. He has helped hundreds of people through some extremely difficult days.
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He said: "For the last 16 years I have been invovled in benefits advice because I do have a passion for helping people. I really love my job.
"We aren't here to collect rent, or to talk about arrears. That is what we have been trying to get across, that we discuss arrears, and we stick to that rule. That is not what we are here to do, we are here to help people.
"I enjoy what I do. I am a sociable person and I think because I can talk to people and get people to open up, it helps in this role.
"We are also here to challenge benefits decision too and if we believe that somebody has been incorrectly paid then we will be here to help to resolve that. We have dealt with a lot of complex cases within the benefits system and we will work really hard to help our tenants.
"The three of us, myself, Sinead and Niamh, are all dedicated to the role and we work together because we are so passionate about wanting the best for people."
The financial inclusion officers started with the Housing Executive in January 2020 and since March 2020, they have helped over 5,000 tenants – averaging around 210 tenants assisted per month.
Their roles are to support tenants to improve their financial wellbeing through various means:
- Providing benefits checks to make sure tenants are receiving everything they are entitled to;
- ‘Better off’ calculations to help tenants make informed decisions about their finances;
- Helping resolve complex benefits issues;
- Providing money and budgeting advice;
- Referral to other specialist sources of debt advice;
- Assisting with access to other sources of financial support (e.g. charitable organisations).
In the past 12 months, they have generated over £1.4million in additional annual benefit entitlement for tenants
One tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, hailed the work of the financial inclusion officers who help their family who were struggling with money.
"We were referred to the Financial Inclusion Manager after making an enquiry about benefits to our Patch Manager," they said.
"We weren’t expecting much as we believed we weren’t entitled to any. After a chat and help with the application process, we found out we were entitled to over £800 a month in Universal Credit. They also helped us to apply for DLA for our daughter. Without the initial referral, we would still be struggling and unaware of what we are entitled to."
A second Housing Executive tenant, who suffers with anxiety and depression, said without their help, she would "be lost". The involvement of the officers in their lives, has left her in a "better place mentally".
They said: "I always worked and was left in a position were I had little money for myself and my daughter, and UC had left me in arrears with the Housing Executive and rates. I have now cleared my arrears and am left in a better place mentally also as the stress of everything and bills on top I couldn't afford.
"I really would have been lost without [the financial inclusion officer and their support]. Even to talk to them the phone as someone with severe anxiety they made its so easy for me and that itself is amazing."
To speak with a Housing Executive financial inclusion office, tenants should contact their Patch Manager on 03448 920 900.
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