Stockport at Home - Issue 31

!Changesto benefitsWelfare Reform


Turn over

to find out more!

Do you need help with the under-occupation charge?

/StockportHomes @StockportHomes

www.stockporthomes.org/welfarereform

Are you ready for Universal Credit?

Tr a n s f o rm i n g L i ve s

Scan here




Scan here

StockportYour customer newsletter - Issue 31, May 2013

at home

Turn over

to find out more!

In future, if you are of working age, Housing Benefit will be paid direct to you through Universal Credit. This means that you will have to make arrangements to pay your rent to Stockport Homes. Universal Credit will be introduced over several years, starting from October 2013.

Set up a basic bank account with a Direct Debit facility – You can approach any high street bank to set up a basic bank account. For more information, please contact your area housing office on 0161 474 4372 (east area) or 0161 474 4371 (west area).

Set up a Direct Debit payment with Stockport Homes for your rent – Simply contact the Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2677 (east area) or 0161 474 2668 (west area).

Know how to make an online application:Most people will be expected to apply for Universal Credit online. Can you complete forms on line? Can you get help to do a form on line? If you would like support on learning how to use computers and the internet, please contact Alan Perkin, Social Inclusion Assistant on 0161 474 2854.

What do I need to do to prepare?

What is Universal Credit?

www.stockporthomes.org/welfarereformwww.stockporthomes.org/welfarereform


Pay your rent by Direct DebitContact the Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2677 (east area) or 0161 474 2668 (west area)

Welfare and debt adviceContact the Debt Advice Project Officeron 0161 474 4089

Improve your household budgetContact the Debt Advice ProjectOfficer on 0161 474 4089

Would youconsider moving?

Joint TenancyContact your area housing office on 0161 474 4372 (east area) or 0161 474 4371 (west area)Is there someone

who you canshare your housing

costs with?

Do you wanthelp to manage

the impact of theunder-occupation

charge?

NO

Help with getting a jobContact the Employment SupportOfficer on 0161 474 2836

YES

NO

YES

YES

YES

Swap homesContact the Mutual ExchangeAssistant on 0161 474 3179

Downsize (move to a smaller home)Contact the Housing Projects Officeron 0161 474 3762

Take in a lodgerContact your area housing office on 0161 474 4372 (east area) or 0161 474 4371 (west area)

Tr a n s f o rm i n g L i ve s /StockportHomes @StockportHomes

www.stockporthomes.org

StockportYour customer newsletter - Issue 31, May 2013 Customer

friendly

The theme of this year’s customer roadshow is ‘What’s stopping you?’ To find out how you can get involved: SEE PAGE 3

at homeNominate your shining

STAR. SEE PAGE 5

2013ST R Awards

2 Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org2

Features inside... Stockport at home

Useful telephone numbers

Win a big break from your bills

Searching for funding for your project?

Get in the driving seat Keep the contents of your home protected

Love your garden Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs)

4

14 17 18

8 9

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) 0161 474 3840out-of-hours number

ASB Team (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) 0161 218 1498

Carecall 0161 218 1655

Customer Feedback 0161 474 2600

Customer Finance 0161 474 4050automated payment line

Customer Finance Team 0161 474 2677(east area)

Customer Finance Team 0161 474 2668(west area)

Customer Involvement Team 0161 474 2862

East Area Housing Office 0161 474 4372

Governance Team 0161 474 2850

Homechoice (bidding line) 0161 474 4567

Homechoice (enquiries) 0161 474 2975

Homechoice Support Service 0161 474 2975

Housing Options Team 0161 474 4237

Housing Support Point 0161 474 3719

Investment Programme hotline 0161 474 4407

Leasehold Officer 0161 218 1364

Repairs 0161 217 6016

Resettlement Team 0161 474 3772

Sheltered Housing Service 0161 218 1736

West Area Housing Office 0161 474 4371

FUNDING £

What’s

What’s

stoppingyou...

Customer roadshow 2013Monday 2 September - Friday 13 September

3Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org 3Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org

We will be taking to the streets of Stockport between Monday 2 September and Friday 13 September for the 2013 customer roadshow.

There will be lots on offer. Come and see us to:

Have a chat about our services.

Learn about getting online and into employment.

Fill in a survey and help to shape our future support and training programme.

Pick up a free goody bag!

...get where you want to be?

...make the most ofyour money?

...access the support and training you need?

After the first steps you will be surprised how easy it is!

For details of where we will be and when:

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter #whatsstoppingyou

www.stockporthomes.org/roadshow

Contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0161 474 2862 or [email protected]

4 Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org

Plus we’ll make

a donation to:

Win a big break from your bills

If you switch to paying by Direct Debit before 30 June 2013 you could win £12,000*. This is part of the national Big Break campaign, which we are supporting.

For every customer who switches to Direct Debit between 1 March 2013 and 30 June 2013, we’ll donate £1 to our Charity of the Year, Beechwood Cancer Care.

Paying by Direct Debit means that your rent will be paid on time, every time, with no missed payments. You can pay your rent weekly, fortnightly, monthly or every four weeks on a day that suits you.

To set up a Direct Debit, please contact the Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2677 (east area) or 0161 474 2668 (west area).

For more information about the Big Break campaign, please visit www.stockporthomes.org/bigbreak

*All customers who already pay by Direct Debit will also be entered into the draw.

Marcia and Cath are parents of adults with a learning disability.

They set up Hope 4 Disability because they had to find care for their children on their own. They know that parents need a lot more help than is currently available.

At Hope there is a database of care and housing providers that can help and families can receive help putting together a personal plan.

You can register to receive updates and information at

hope4disability.org.uk Stockport Homes’ Head

Office, 1 St Peter’s Square SK1 1NZ

0161 480 3001 or 07503 766 182.

ST R Awards2013

5Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org

If an individual or group have worked hard in your community and you think they deserve some recognition, you can reward them by nominating them for a STAR Award. The winners will receive prizes at an award ceremony. This year’s categories are:

Customer of the Year AwardFor individuals who have:

• shown outstanding commitment by working with us to improve services;

• actively been involved in the community, improving community spirit; or

• supported others in their neighbourhood to improve their lives.

Young Person’s Award (under 25 years)For individuals who have:

• made a positive contribution in their community;

• made a difference to someone else’s life;• made positive changes to improve their

own lives; or• shown a commitment to improving our

services.

Community Project AwardFor groups who have:

• made a positive difference within the community;

• made the community a much safer place to live; or

• delivered projects to help improve the lives of others.

Green AwardFor individuals or groups who have:

• changed the visual appearance or sustainability of their community;

• created a much healthier, cleaner environment; or

• improved the environment, such as a wildlife garden or community recycling.

You can pick up a copy of the STAR Awards nomination by visiting:• the Housing Information Centre at 1 St.

Peter’s Square;• the East Area Housing Office at 1 Berwick

Parade;• the West Area Housing Office at Bridgehall

Community Centre;• your local library or Stockport Direct Centre;• www.stockporthomes.org/starawards

Or you can contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0161 474 2862 or [email protected]

Deadlines for entries 23 August 2013


We are holding the annual football event on Thursday 22 August, 10am - 3pm (arrival from 9.30am). To register your interest, please contact the Caretaking Services Team on 0161 474 5071 or [email protected]

Activities include:• free professional coaching with

Stockport County coaches and players;

• penalty shoot out; and• mini football tournament.

Customers aged 18-25 have been proving themselves to be the next big thing in the MASH Film Project.

They have created a series of films for young people about being smart with money, balancing your lifestyle and seeking

help. Coming soon to our website!

The films have been scripted, filmed and starred in by the young customers. As a result of getting involved they have each gained an accredited Bronze Arts Award, well done!

Young customers have been getting to grips with trades as part of the Construction Youth Trust Mobile Classroom Programme.

The programme helps young people gain different skills, a qualification, work placement and a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

If you are aged 16-30, interested in a career in construction and want to take the first steps, please contact Nicola Green, Customer Involvement

Officer on 0161 474 5811 or [email protected]

Don’t flash your cash, check out

Constructing a new career


Interested in volunteering?Passionate

about your community?

The network is made up of people just like you who live in or around our neighbourhoods. They meet up to share experiences and resources and help plan community projects.

For example, the group has been involved in shaping this year’s Neighbourhood Action Plans (see page 18 for more details).

Please contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0161 474 2862 or [email protected] to find out when the next meeting is taking place.

People volunteer for different reasons. For some it provides the chance to put something back into their neighbourhoods. Others use it to develop their skills and knowledge or explore something new!

We can help you find a volunteering opportunity within our services or in your local area.

Our Employment and Volunteer Officer, Pippa McNeeney is ready to help you to access relevant volunteering opportunities.

For more information, please contact Pippa on 07875 990 370 or

[email protected]

H3 has hired its first employee, Jackie (far left), as a Facilities Cleaner. She also volunteers her time to help with the FairShare food redistribution programme for homeless residents. In the future, H3 hopes to offer employment opportunities to other people who are homeless within Stockport.

‘You’re hired’

Since April 2012 over 3,325 voluntary hours have been completed across Stockport Homes.Community

Champions’Network

Then why not join our...

H3 is always looking for new members to join its charity. If you are interested, contact Vijay Chauhan on

07800 618 628 or [email protected]

Helping the Homeless into Housing

www.h-3.org.uk Charity number – 1147113


Customer Scrutiny Panel Hello, I’m Ian Parker, the Chair of the Customer Scrutiny Panel. We are a group of customers who look at Stockport Homes’ services and suggest improvements direct to Stockport Homes’ Board.

It’s great to see changes starting to happen as a result of our reviews. In a previous review we asked the Sheltered Housing Service to work with customers to set standards for the service that are most important to them. The new standards will be ready in July.

We have just completed our review of the Caretaking Service and we will update you about this in the next newsletter. Our next review is on customer experience of home improvement work.

CustomerScrutinyPanelOn Target

If you have any suggestions for reviews or would to get involved, please contact Rebecca Horton, Customer Involvement Officer on 0161 218 1368, [email protected] or visit www.stockporthomes.org/CSP

Get in the driving seat…

Our Board sets our vision, which makes sure we continue to be an ambitious and high performing company that is recognised as a great place to work.

To apply to become a Board member or to find out about business skills training, please call the Governance Team on

0161 474 3511 or [email protected]

Do you want to be involved in making the big decisions about how we manage your homes and communities? Then why not become a Board member?

Our Board of Directors includes five customers (tenants or leaseholders); people like you who want to make a difference. We give training to help customers develop the business skills to make these decisions, skills which you can add to your CV.

As a Board member you will help set our priorities and ensure we deliver the best services possible.



Stockport Homes’ staff members always carry an ID badge.

Many customers believe that we automatically insure their furniture, decorations and belongings against theft, fire, vandalism or water bursts. This is not the case.

Residents are urged to be on their guard against bogus callers

Keep the contents of your home protected from only £1.35 per week

Protect your home

Some Stockport residents have been contacted by bogus callers who claim they need to check the number of bedrooms in the home, linked to changes to Housing Benefit. These types of approach are often a ploy for criminals to carry out a distraction burglary.

Residents should report these calls to Greater Manchester Police or the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.

Although we always stress this when people first move into one of our properties, many people only take it on board after the damage has been done.

We advise you to take out home contents insurance. You can do this through our Home Contents Insurance Scheme, or by making your own arrangements.

For more information about doorstep crime, including useful numbers, advice and tips to stay safe visit

www.saferstockport.org.uk

Our Home Contents Insurance Scheme is arranged through and offers:• weekly payment facilities;• insurance for your furniture, TV, clothing,

carpets and electrical goods;• insurance against fire, theft, vandalism and

water damage;• ‘New for Old’ insurance; and • no excess to pay.

For more information, please contact the Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2820 or [email protected]

Remember: Don’t let anyone into your home unless you check their identity.


After her Housing Officer visited to explain that her Housing Benefit would reduce because she had a ‘spare’ bedroom, Ann was worried for the future.

She said, “The Housing Officer explained that I would have to pay an extra £22.50 per week, and I just didn’t know if I could afford it”.

When the Housing Officer asked Ann if she wanted to move to a smaller property, she said no. “I’d lived in my house for 25 years, it had a beautiful garden, and I knew all my neighbours very well.”

However, Ann has ME, and the reduction in Housing Benefit was the push she needed to move. “I wanted to move on my terms, before I was forced to move somewhere unsuitable because I couldn’t afford the rent.”

We found Ann a one bedroomed flat just two roads away from her old house, and through the Downsizing Scheme, Ann received help with her moving costs. Ann is now happy in her new flat, “I’m really glad I did it – I’m in a much better situation because my Housing Benefit hasn’t gone down and I’m still in the same area with all my friends and family”.

If you are struggling following Housing Benefit changes, you could down-size to a smaller property.

For more information, please contact Heidi Stewart, Housing Projects Officer on

0161 474 3762 or homechoice@

stockporthomes.org

Are you affected by Housing Benefit changes? Is your home too big or too small?Have you thought about a mutual exchange? A mutual exchange is where you swap your home with another Stockport Homes or housing association tenant.

For more information, please call Ffion Morgan, Mutual

Exchange Assistant on 0161 474 3179, ffion.morgan@

stockporthomes.org or visit www.stockporthomes.

org/exchange Ffion has a database of people who need to move and can help you find a match.

You can register with House Exchange free of charge. It is a mutual exchange service operating locally and nationally. It provides a matching service to people who register by sending email alerts when matches are found. For more information and to register, please visit

houseexchange.org.uk

Swapping your home

Downsizing SchemeCase Study


Our Educational Officer has gone ‘back to school’ to work with young people to promote positive behaviour and help prevent anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Many of the calls Homechoice receives are where you want to talk about the different housing options available to you.

Back to school!

Housing advice on-line

Rebecca delivers fun and interactive sessions to raise awareness of ASB. Most recently she ran ‘The Great Adswood Bake Off’ (pictured above) with 10 young people. Young people learnt how to cook simple meals on a budget and they received an accredited food hygiene certificate.

We are always happy to talk, but we know that many people prefer to get information on-line. Therefore, we have introduced ‘on-line’ rehousing plans.

Go to stockporthomes.ehodirect.org.uk and enter some basic details.

Rebecca has also just finished a five week urban design workshop in Heaton Norris. The project taught participants how to design clothes using techniques such as graffiti.

If you have ideas for projects, please contact Rebecca McAvoy, Educational Officer on 0161 218 1674 or

[email protected]

The website will then create an action plan for you, outlining your choices, tips on finding a new home and how long you may have to wait.

You can either print off your plan or it will be emailed to you so it is on hand when you need it.

Positive action against anti-social behaviour (ASB)In each issue of Stockport at home we give you a breakdown of the legal action taken against people who have committed ASB. Here is a breakdown April 2011 - March 2013:

Type of legal action Year end2011/12

Quarter one 2012/13

Quarter two 2012/13

Quarter three 2012/13

Quarter four 2012/13

Year end 2012/13

Notice of seeking possession 14 0 0 3 2 5Postponed Possession Orders 3 0 0 1 0 1Outright Possession Orders 3 0 1 2 0 3Evictions 0 0 0 0 0 0Notice to Terminate (introductory tenants)

5 0 3 0 0 3

Notice to extend (introductory tenants)

11 2 2 1 6 11

Demotion Notices 9 0 0 0 0 0Injunctions 62 9 6 11 15 41Undertakings 8 1 5 3 2 11Closure Orders 3 0 0 0 0 0Committal 0 2 9 3 1 15Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)

5 1 3 1 2 7

Noise Abatement Notice 2 0 0 0 0 0Acceptable Behaviour Contract 20 3 2 1 4 10Total 145 18 31 26 32 107

There has been an 8.5 per cent decrease in the number of reports of ASB during the last year. This means that we haven’t needed to take as much legal action. Over the last year:• 95.83% of customers

were satisfied with the

outcome of their ASB complaint

• The time taken to resolve ASB has gone down to 92 days (from 100 days)

• 100% of customers were satisfied with the witness support service

• 93% of ASB cases were successfully resolved

Over the next year we are expanding the Concierge Service to make sure customers remain confident that ASB can be tackled effectively. It will also mean the need for witnesses is reduced as the CCTV images can be used instead.

RESPECT Give respect Get respect

Anti-social behaviourTOGETHER WE CANSTAMP IT OUT

ASB


Tenant faces eviction for cannabis farm


Mottram Street In May 2012 a Stockport Homes property was raided by the police, and a cannabis farm was found.

The electricity meter in the property had been bypassed to give the high intensity lighting and heating needed to grow the plants. We interviewed the tenant who claimed to know nothing about the cannabis farm and claimed that it must have been her boyfriend, who is not a tenant.

In December 2012 the tenant was convicted of permitting the production of cannabis and for possession of an amphetamine. Her boyfriend

was convicted of producing cannabis and stealing electricity. He was sentenced to 16 months detention in a Young Offenders Institution.

We have served a Notice of Seeking Possession on the tenant and are in the process of going to court to evict her.

We will take tough action against tenants who allow their properties to be used for drug production or the supply of drugs.

Repair 1st helps local students perfect their interview skills.

ST

In March, staff from Repair 1st attended a Careers Day for year 10 students at Reddish Vale Technology College. The day aimed to help students perfect their interview skills, so they are in a good position to secure a job.

Repair 1st staff members Mark Halstead and Laraine Curran carried out mock interviews with the students.

At the end of the session they provided feedback to the teachers to help the students improve their interview skills.

Mark and Laraine also ran a careers advice session, where they explained what Stockport Homes looks for when employing maintenance and office staff and how young people can access work experience and apprenticeships opportunities.

Interview perfection

Mark congratulating the successful students


Cherry Tree – Warm and Cosy Community

Cherry Tree Partners has hit the jackpot and secured nearly £8,000 of funding from the Big Lottery “Awards for all” fund to improve its local community shop. It will be used to install new central heating, front door and secondary glazing.

Success for Friends of TangshuttFriends of Tangshutt, Romiley, secured £2,914 from Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund and Equity Foundation. This has been used to improve a well used greenspace by providing new benches, holding a May Day Festival and running a programme of sports coaching during school holidays.

The group has also helped Edinburgh Close Sheltered Scheme in Cheadle secure funding from Forever Manchester. This will pay for Startpoint to teach residents how to use computers, surf the internet and stay safe online.


York Street Silver Surfers win again!

“The funding we have received has transformed the centre. It has meant that we can purchase computers, so in the future we can search and apply for things online.”

Our Funding Officer has helped a number of local groups receive funding. Here are some examples:

Projects funded by:

Do you have a project or an idea that requires funding?

If so, please contact Mark Rogers, Funding Officer on 0161 474 3463, [email protected]

or visit www.stockporthomes.org/funding

FUNDING £

York Street Residents Association has maintained its 100 per cent success rate for applying for funding. Well done to Lyn (pictured above), Peggy and the team!

With £3,296 of funding from the Equity Foundation, York Street can buy extra computer equipment, a computer safe and network points for all of the new laptop computers in the community centre.

F O U N D A T I O N


Performance super six (April 2012 - March 2013)

We are on target...

We are almost there...

95.8of customers are happy with how

we deal with anti-social behaviour.

Vulnerable people supported tomaintain independent living:

97.9satisfaction with the Repairs Service.

10 Average of

to re-let empty properties.DAYS

of homes have a valid gas safety certificate.

Vulnerable people supported to maintain independent living

Teen pregnancy - 97%of rent and water charges are being collected.99.61%

97.6üResettlement

100ü

98.6üTenancy support

The super six is a set of performance indicators chosen by customers because they matter most to you. We’re a top performing Arm’s Length Management Organisation in most areas. If our performance is under target we are working with customers and staff to improve.

For more information, please contact Adam Howell, Business Support Officer on 0161 474 4497 or

[email protected]



Your feedback counts

Customer complaints

Customer compliments

We welcome feedback from customers because it is essential to improving our services.

To make a complaint or compliment, please contact the Performance and Improvement Team on 0161 474 2600 or [email protected]

Around 44 per cent were about the repairs service.

One of the things that has been reviewed following customer

feedback is the way appointments are booked for inspections. The number of inspections in an inspector’s diary has been reduced to stop too many appointments being made.

“Staff have been really helpful and supportive and kept me on track.”

“If I could give you 11 out of 10 I would. Very helpful, and can’t give you any suggestions. You did everything that I needed help with and were always there to help me.”

“I would like to thank Carecall for all their help as it is much appreciated. The staff have been lovely.”

Between January and March 2013 we received 120 complaints. Some typical themes were:

We received 127 compliments between January and March 2013. Some typical ones were:

A new independent ‘Designated Tenant Panel’ will now review complaints before they can be dealt with by the Ombudsman. The panel is separate from our complaints process and it is independent of it. However, complaints have to be fully considered by us before the ‘Designated Tenant Panel’ can review them. For more information, please visit housing-ombudsman.org.uk

Around 14 per cent were about customer service from staff.

Following this feedback, three

members of staff were given extra guidance about how to deal with customers.

Around five per cent were about the caretaking service.

Following this feedback,

caretakers were reminded about the procedures they should follow.

“We would like to thank the young man who recently installed grab rails in our bathroom. He was extremely polite, thoughtful and efficient, clean and tidy.”Mrs Warwick(pictured here)


Stockport Homes’ Gardening Competition is now open!

You could win £150 in vouchers*. For more information on this year’s categories, to enter or to nominate someone else, go to

www.stockporthomes.org/loveyourgarden or pick up an entry form from your Area Housing Office or the Housing Information Centre or call Chrissie Parlane, Green Space Administrative Assistant on 0161 474 2377.

Deadline for entries is Friday 26 July.

Terms and conditions apply, please see website or entry form for full details.

*Awarded to the Best in the Borough winner.

love your garden

Go green, save money!

Between January and March 2013 we received 120 complaints. Some typical themes were:

We received 127 compliments between January and March 2013. Some typical ones were:

But we want to aim even higher, with a target of 70 per cent. This means taking a fresh look at everything we throw away and making sure we’re doing our best to reduce the amount of waste

we send to landfill. This will help keep our environment cleaner and greener, as well as save money because it costs around four times as much to dispose of waste than it does to recycle.

If a bin contains the wrong items it can mean that the whole lorry load is sent to landfill, wasting everyone else’s recycling efforts. Remember there are containers for:

Residents have helped increase the Borough’s recycling rate to over 60 per cent by making sure that they put the right thing in the right bin – officially making you the best recyclers in the North West!

For more information about recycling visit www.stockport.gov.uk/waste

Paper and card, including cardboard milk and juice cartons (tetrapaks), newspapers and egg boxes.

Mixed recycling, including glass bottles and jars, food and drink cans, aerosols, plastic bottles, aluminium foil and foil trays.

Paper

Cartons

Cardboard

Envelopes

Glass

Cans

Bottles

Plastic

AerosolsEmpty


Scheme to help first-time buyersStockport Council in partnership with Lloyds TSB is offering a new mortgage scheme to help first-time buyers.

Key points of the scheme are:• Available for first-time buyers only.• Applicants will be assessed by participating lenders.• Properties must be within Stockport.• Maximum loan size will be £142,500.• Not available for ‘right to buy’, ‘buy to let’ applicants

or new build properties.

The scheme will be available later this year. For more information, contact Shamim Miah, Housing Strategy Officer on 0161 474 4387 or [email protected]

The ‘Local Authority Mortgage Scheme’ (LAMS) helps first-time buyers get on the property ladder.

Stockport Council will be providing up to £3million of support into this scheme, which will help around 100 first-time buyers in Stockport to buy a property.

Customers (including the Community Champions Network and partners) have been helping to shape this year’s NAPs.

This year a range of projects will be taking place. These will improve the local environment, reduce anti-social behaviour, promote health and wellbeing, provide training, employment and activities for children and young people.

Some of these projects will be funded through the Estate Improvement Budget or Community Fund.

If you want to get involved or have an idea for a project, please contact your Area Housing Office (see page 2 for contact details). Regular updates will be included in the ‘Your Neighbourhood’ newsletter and a copy of each NAP is available at www.stockporthomes.org/NAPS

Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs) – did you know?


Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org 19

Leaseholders, are you prepared for benefit changes?

The new Welfare Reform Bill may affect leaseholders of working age who claim certain benefits or have unoccupied properties.

For those out of work, the maximum annual payment for combined benefits will be capped at £500 per week for couples or single parents and £350 per week for single people.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - the payment of contributory ESA will be limited to a 12 month period.

Council Tax benefit is to be replaced with a Local Support Scheme from April 2013 and the empty property discounts have changed.

If you are a leaseholder who will be affected by these changes we have staff trained to help.

We have put measures in place to help, such as: • Increasing payment

options, including any day Direct Debits.

• Providing help and assistance to unemployed customers wanting to get back into work.

• Specialist Money Advisors providing advice on how to make the most of your money and dealing with debt.

For more information, please visit www.stockporthomes.org/welfarereform to see how benefit changes affect you.

Universal Credit will replace the existing benefits system for all new claimants of working age from October 2013. The system will be phased in for existing claimants between April 2014 and the end of 2017. Universal Credit will be paid directly to you every month.

Personal Independence Payments will replace the Disability Living Allowance.

For more information on Universal Credit and the Welfare Reform Bill, please visit www.stockporthomes.org/welfarereform or contact Tracy Nield, Leasehold Officer

on 0161 217 1364 or [email protected]

20 Stockport at home - Issue 31 www.stockporthomes.org20

When somebody with a council or housing association home rents it without permission or obtains a home by providing false details, they are guilty of tenancy fraud.

BLOW THE WHISTLE ONHOUSING CHEATS

If you suspect someone of tenancy fraud, contact us: Freephone 0808 901 9300,[email protected] or visit www.stockporthomes.org/fraud

Your report will be private and you don’t have to give your name.

Diversity and accessibilityYou can get free copies of newsletters and other documents from Stockport Homes on audiotape, CD or in large print.

For more information, please contact Phil Rhodes on telephone 0161 474 2860, text 07891 949 399, email [email protected] or write to Social Inclusion Team, Corporate Services Directorate, 1 St. Peter’s Square, Stockport SK1 1NZ

This newsletter includes information about Stockport Homes’ events and services. A free interpreting service is available if you need help with this newsletter. Please telephone Stockport Interpreting Unit on 0161 477 9000. Email:[email protected]

Portuguese

Farsi

Chinese

Urdu

Arabic

Polish

Please recycle this newsletter in an appropriate way.

Paper from responsiblesources. MIX FSC C002977















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StockportYour customer newsletter - Issue 31, May 2013

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Stockport at Home - Issue 31