Information for Those Facing Financial Hardship

If you are struggling to keep up to date with rent or service charge payments or are worried about your financial situation please contact your resident services officer on 020 7450 8000 for more information.

It is important that you contact us immediately if your income has reduced or ceased so we can help you.

Claiming benefits

We under stand that there are many residents who will be claiming benefits during this time, to help you Citizens Advice Bureau have created a document informing people of what they can do if due to the coronavirus, you have become unemployed.

Please see here Citizens Advice Coronavirus – check what benefits you can get March2020

Workers who are unable to work but will have employment re-engaged

If you are employed buy have been stood down, but will be re-engaged when the crisis is over (furloughed). In late April your employers can apply for government money to cover 80% of their salary, but sadly not all employers will apply. The scheme applies to all workers who employer was taking tax at source (PAYE), so significantly zero hours and variable hours workers may be covered Please speak to your employer about this scheme.

More information for employed can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees

Self Employed

If you are self- employed and usually earn under £50,000 per year, you will need to have submitted a tax return in 2018/19.  The government are opening a scheme in June and again we don’t know when these workers will get their money or how much they will receive.

More information on this can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-gives-support-to-millions-of-self-employed-individuals

We advise you to keep checking http://www.gov.uk website for further information on how to apply.

Universal Credit

It is advised that you apply for Universal Credit while you wait for any government schemes to pay out, the normal wait for Universal Credit payments if 5 weeks, however you can apply for an advanced payment, which will need to be paid back at a later date.

To apply for Universal Credit please follow this link https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

If you require assistance applying for Universal Credit, please call Citizens Advice Southwark Universal Credit Help to Claim service on 0800 144 8444

Southwark Council Hardship Fund

You can also apply to Southwark Council for a grant via their hard ship fund. More information can be found on https://www.southwark.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/hardship-fund