The tenant reached State Retirement Pension age and their Universal Credit housing costs stopped coming direct to Lochaber Housing Association. In the beginning, the tenant failed to engage with the Association which resulted in high level rent arrears, and the tenant faced eviction.
Challenges
- The tenant initially did not engage with Lochaber Housing Association.
- The tenant’s knowledge of the benefit system was limited.
- The tenant was digitally excluded.
- The tenant accrued significant rent arrears and faced eviction
Successes
The tenant explained to the Housing Officer that an independent advice agency gave them a number to call. When they called the number, they were given a website address and told to go online to apply for housing benefit. But the tenant is inexperienced at going online. Their daughter can use the internet but had no experience of the benefit system.
The Housing Officer visited the tenant with a device and supported them with a State Retirement Pension claim and a Housing Benefit claim. The tenant received backdated State Retirement Pension and Housing Benefit, reducing the rent arrears.
During the visit, the tenant indicated that they had poor budgeting skills, explained they had other debts and that they were struggling with energy costs. There was an ongoing non-dependant deduction shortfall and they needed to apply for Pension Credit,
Council Tax Reduction and any other age-related benefits.
New Start Highland provides housing support to people at risk of homelessness and Lochaber Housing Association requested that they engage with the tenant to support them to avoid eviction.
The housing support providers:
- Worked with the tenant to set up a budgeting plan and a payment plan for the rent shortfall and arrears.
- Strengthened the tenants understanding of their rights and responsibilities outlined in the tenancy agreement.
- Helped the tenant sort through and deal with mail.
- Accessed Lochaber Housing Association’s Fuel Fund where the tenant was provided with a heated throw and an air fryer to help with energy saving and a one-off payment towards energy costs.
- Provided the tenant with Foodbank vouchers.
- Discussed local groups that the tenant could attend now that they are retired to prevent loneliness and isolation.
- Sourced a mobile phone device from a local charity through their digital exclusion service for older people that provided the tenant 6 months free credit and data, which also included a 10-week course of teaching internet skills.
- Provided budgeting advice and skills and promoted good spending habits.
- Supported the tenant with engaging with other organisations.
Lochaber Housing Association accessed meter vouchers from the Energy Hardship Fund to top up the tenants pay-as-you-go meter to provide financial relief from energy costs.
With the support from the Housing Officer and the housing support providers at New Start Highland, the risk of homelessness was removed.