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

Sutton South, Cheam & Belmont Local Committee

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

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Citizens Advice Sutton contract with LB Sutton Substantial ‘added value’ from services funded by

• ther 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

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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

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Enquiry Types

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Welfare Benefit enquiries

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

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Housing enquiries

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

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Debt enquiries

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

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Financial gains for clients

Benefits (PIP/CA/PC ) 64% Debts (Housing arrears) 30% Other (charitable payments) 2% Relationships (child maintenance) 4%

Financial Gains - total £52,000

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Ethnicity

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

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Age

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

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Faith and belief

Christian 58% Muslim 7% No religion 23% Any other 4% Buddhist 4% Hindu 4%

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Accommodation type

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

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Relationship Status

Cohabiting 4% Divorced 8% Married 42% Separated 7% Single 39%

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Case study (1)

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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.

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Case study (3)

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Enquiry Area Financial Client profile Client is 50 year old lady, severely disabled as a result of an 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

• f 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.

Case study (4)

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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

• f 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. How CAS helped CAS Adviser explained the Possession process to Client and suggested 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.

Case study (5)

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Enquiry Area Benefits Client profile Client is 64 year old man who moved in with his 91 year

• ld 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.

www.suttonalps.org.uk 020 8254 2616

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