Magic Merrylee Owl Magic and the Tommy Tricks Magic Show Are Among the Attractions at This Year’S Merrylee Open Day
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MERRYLEE NEWSLETTER The newsletter of Govanhill Housing Association for tenants and factored owners in Merrylee Summer 2017 Cuts to benefits – know your rights Further changes are being help with rent from September autumn 2018. It will replace made to the benefits system next year; and, single tenants income support, income- – and Association tenants are under the age of 35 receiving based jobseeker’s allowance, urged to get in touch to find help with their housing costs income-related employment out their rights. from April 2019. A reduced and support allowance, tax The most significant level of the benefit cap took credits and housing benefit. forthcoming changes are effect in January. See inside for a four-page pull- to Universal Credit, with Universal Credit will be rolled out with more information on restrictions on: 18-21 year olds out fully in the Glasgow changes to the benefit system, accessing housing costs for area covering Merrylee in pages 3 to 6. Magic Merrylee Owl Magic and the Tommy Tricks magic show are among the attractions at this year’s Merrylee Open Day. A competition to identify resident group members and Association staff from old photos will also be held. There will be lots of opportunities to win prizes, drink tea, meet neighbours and friends, and help raise funds for the residents’ group. The open day will take place on Saturday 9 September in Merrylee Primary School from 1pm to 3.30pm. Admission is Owl Magic at last year’s free and open to all! Merrylee Open Day Give your feedback on the Merrylee Newsletter to Jennifer on 0141 636 3668 or at [email protected]. You can read the Govanhill Housing AssociationGovanhill Summer 2017Newsletter at www.govanhillha.org 1 New allocations policy due to go live The Association’s new allocations policy to provide those most in need with quality, affordable housing is due to be implemented this summer. The policy, which was developed after consulting widely with tenants and applicants, takes account of a wide range of housing needs, allowing the Association to make best use of the limited number of properties that come up for allocation. current banding system. The letter advising of your points In accordance with legislation, intention is to make allocations award in line with the new allocations will be made as fair as possible and provide policy. across three groups: existing a system that is easily If you have any queries when tenants wishing to transfer to understood by applicants. you receive that letter you can alternative accommodation; The Association is beginning make an appointment at our general waiting list applicants; the process of assessing and homeless people who are applicants against the new Allocations Surgery, which runs referred to us by Glasgow City policy. This may take some daily at our Samaritan House Council. time as there are around 1,000 office. If you have recently The policy will award applicants applications on the housing list. been sent an application form a number of points based on If you have a transfer but have not yet completed the various elements of their application with the and returned it, please do this housing need, rather than the Association, you will receive a as soon as possible. Building on tenants’ conference success The Association is planning to hold a second tenants’ conference following the success of last year’s event. The conference, which is expected to take place in October, will provide tenants with an update on the Association’s performance and how it has responded to feedback from last year. The Association aims to make the event as inclusive as possible, but places will be limited due to space restrictions, so anyone interested is advised to book early. Booking forms will be available in our autumn newsletter. If over- For further information, or if you have ideas subscribed, the Association could consider about topics for discussion, contact Tenant organising a further event. Participation Worker Jennifer Ferguson on 0141 636 3668. 2 Govanhill Housing Association Summer 2017 BENEFIT CUTS: A GUIDE FOR TENANTS Govanhill Housing Association Summer 2017 3 BENEFIT CUTS: A GUIDE FOR TENANTS Tenants urged to get advice over welfare changes The most significant changes to the welfare system relate to the benefit cap and Universal Credit. Universal Credit restrictions for 18-21 year olds – There are a significant number of exemption categories and, if a tenant meets any, the restriction will not apply. Also, the Scottish Government plans to introduce funding for those 18-21 year olds who are unable to meet any of the exemption criteria. Universal Credit restrictions for single tenants under the age of 35 – Referred to as the shared a specified level. The Association’s Welfare accommodation rate, this will result in tenants Rights Team has contacted affected tenants to not being paid the full amount through Universal discuss whether they could be exempt from the Credit to cover the cost of their rent. This cap. Tenants have also been given help with restriction currently only applies in the private applications for discretionary housing payments, rented sector but over the next couple of years it will begin to affect tenants in the social rented to ease hardship caused by this change – to date sector, such as those who have a tenancy with a the results have been very positive. housing association or local authority. Given the complexity of these changes, and the Benefit cap – The cap limits the amount of exemptions that can apply, it is important that housing benefit paid to those of working age any tenants who may be affected contact the who have a weekly income from benefits above Association’s Welfare Rights Team for advice. Case study Before becoming an Association tenant, a tenant. Unfortunately, she then lost her job single parent with two young children, aged and issues arose around her right to reside nine and two, lived in substandard private and access means-tested benefits, leading to rented accommodation. The woman, originally substantial rent arrears. Help and support from from Romania, worked 16 hours a week for a the Association’s Rent Advice Team led to company that paid cash in hand and would not housing benefit being restored and agreement provide an employment contract or payslips. on a payment arrangement for arrears. The She struggled to claim benefits because of tenant subsequently found work with a local the lack of an employment paper trail but organisation in Govanhill and was supported was given help to apply for housing with to apply for in-work benefits and a reduction the Association and subsequently became a in housing benefit/council tax. 4 Govanhill Housing Association Summer 2017 BENEFITBENEFIT CUTS: CUTS: A GUIDE A GUIDE FOR FOR TENANTS TENANTS Cuts to benefits and tax credits for tenants Families with two children who rely on in-work or born after 6 April will not be included when out-of-work benefits are, on average, almost £50 assessing entitlement to these benefits, a week worse off in real terms than they were in though there are exceptions to this two- 2014, it is estimated. children rule. Due to the many changes that have been • Many new claimants who are unable to work introduced over the past three years it is vital will no longer receive an additional amount that anyone who may be affected seeks welfare due to being unfit for work – instead they will rights advice, such as that provided by the be paid at the same rate as a jobseeker. Association. • Under Universal Credit, lone parents and main A number of cuts to benefits and tax credits were carers will be expected to prepare for work introduced in April for those in and out of work. when their youngest child turns two and to As a result of those changes alone, couples in look for a full-time job when their youngest Scotland will lose an average of more than £1,400 child is three years old. a year, and lone parents around £1,800. Universal Credit is being rolled out nationally by area. Along with many other changes taking The changes include: place, this will affect claimants in Merrylee and • Less support for newly-widowed parents Govanhill from September 2018. under reforms to bereavement benefits, with Tenants affected by any of these changes, or 75% worse off in cash terms. who need further information, should contact our • Limiting of entitlement to tax credits, housing Welfare Rights Team for advice. The Association benefit and Universal Credit to a maximum will keep tenants informed about future planned of two children – any third or further child changes to the benefit system. Case study In receipt of a number of benefits and they were helped by the Rent Advice and supports, the middle-aged couple with three Welfare Rights Teams to apply to Glasgow City children took advice from the Association Council for a discretionary housing payment when they found that the income they (DHP). Although initially awarded at the full received exceeded the benefit cap level. That amount, it was later reduced due to constraints meant that anything the couple received over on the DHP budget. Due to the tenants’ £384.62 a week would be taken from their ongoing health conditions, an application has housing benefit or Universal Credit. With the been made for a disability benefit (personal weekly reduction of £78.84 in their housing independence payment). If successful, it will benefit causing the family stress and anxiety, exempt the tenants from the benefit cap and they approached the Association. Tenants for return their housing benefit to the full amount almost 15 years, and originally from the area, due.