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heartof the matter Hey Good Looking ... We are the winners Find out what we have been doing The Riverside fund raisers to homes around the county. Tenant Board Elections Summer 2012 / Issue 7 facebook.com/taicalon @taicalon www.taicalon.org Contents Keep in Touch z Keep in Touch p2 There are so many different z Economic and Financial Inclusion Manager p3 ways in which you can get z Big Changes are Happening p3 in touch with us and keep up-to-date with what is z About Universal Credit p4 going on. z Brynmawr Millennium Community Group Sensory Garden p5 By Phone: z Cuts Watch Cymru p6 Ring us on 0300 303 1717 z Recharge Policy p6 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. In an z Hey Good Looking! p8 emergency our “out of z You said... We did... p10 hours service” is available z 2013 Tai Calon Calendar Competition p11 on 0300 303 1717. By Email: z Smart Money Credit Union p12 [email protected] z Sheltered Shout p1 By fax: z A helping hand p2 01495 290 501. z Be fire safe p3 Visit or write to us at: z Sheltered Forum Meetings p3 Tai Calon Community Housing, Solis One, z Llandafel Court p4 Rising Sun Industrial Estate, z The 1,200th kitchen p14 Blaina, Blaenau Gwent, z TPAS Cymru Participation Awards p15 NP13 3JW Website: z Neighbourhood You said We Did p16 www.taicalon.org has lots z Board Elections p18 of useful information about z Tenant handbook p18 us and you can read all our latest news. facebook: join our page by “liking” us at £25 could be yours facebook.com/taicalon Twitter: in our facebook follow us @taicalon If you have a story to tell competition us, or want us to include We want your money saving ideas and... something in the next The best one each month will win £25 in edition of our newsletter, shopping vouchers. contact: Hefina Rendle, The winner can double their money to £50 if they invest their Communications and winnings in a credit union account for six months. Visit us on PR Manager, at facebook for more details. Solis One, or by email Facebook.com/taicalon [email protected] 2 BiG Changes are Happening... Are You Ready? From October, 2013... Housing Benefit will be paid to tenants of working age. Housing Benefit will NO LONGER be sent directly to Tai Calon Community Housing. It is the tenant’s responsibility to pay their rent to Tai Calon on time, every time. Are you ready for the change? Hello The simplest way to pay your rent is by... My name is Sarah Freeman. I am the Economic and Opening a bank account and Financial Inclusion Manager at Tai Calon Community setting up a Direct Debit. Housing. It guarantees your rent In this copy of the newsletter we will be explaining the changes will be paid. to benefits that are happening over the coming months. DON’T DELAY ... SIGN UP We will also be giving details on how you can get money advice FOR DIRECT DEBIT TODAY and join a credit union. In February, the Welfare Reform Bill was given the Royal Assent And receive TWO making it law. Under this new Act of Parliament there are Time Banking Credits several changes to the benefits you may receive and how you (limited offer, apply now). will get them. The changes that will come into effect next year will affect everyone if you receive any form of benefit, this includes housing benefit, council tax benefit, ESA, income Contact us for help in support, job seekers, DLA and tax credits. Now is the time to setting up a bank account. seek advice and help to cope with these changes! Best wishes, Sarah 3 About Universal Credit The UK government is replacing a number of benefits with a new one called Universal Credit. From next year anyone applying for benefit will get Universal Credit if they qualify for help. After 2013 the government will move everyone to Universal Credit. However, it promises that no one will receive less money than they previously got, as long as there are no other changes in their circumstances. The Department for Work than 16 hours a week but they will be worked out by computer. and Pensions has produced the are on a low wage. Under Occupation of a following information about what These benefits will be replaced property for working age is going to happen. by one called Universal Credit. It tenants At the moment, some people will help people who do not have From April, 2013, Housing Benefit who are over 16 and under 65 and a job or who do have a job but will be linked to the number of do not have enough money to do not have enough money. people and bedrooms in your look after themselves can apply People who get Universal Credit home. According to the new rules for a number of different benefits. will be able to do more work one bedroom will be allowed for: • Income Support. This is before their benefit is reduced. • Any couple or single person money people may get if they Universal Credit will not take aged 16 or over do not have a job or they work the place of Disability Living less than 16 hours a week. And • Children under 16 of the Allowance. But the government same gender the money they have coming is changing Disability Living • Children under 10 of either in is less than the government Allowance. This is money that gender says they need to live on. is paid to people who have a • Jobseeker’s Allowance. This is disability and need help with • A non resident overnight carer money people get if they do not personal care or getting around, to provide care to a disabled have a job, but they can work. or both of these things. tenant or their partner. It is expected that housing benefit • Employment and Support The benefits that people can Allowance. This is money get if they have paid National will be cut by 14% for those judged people get if they have no job, Insurance Contributions will not to have one extra spare room and and they cannot work at all, be replaced by Universal Credit. by 25% if two or more rooms are said to be under occupied. or cannot work now but could Universal Credit will help people work some time in the future. work within the law to make more Tenants ... you will be • Housing Benefit. This is money money. It will also be easier to responsible for paying the that helps people who are both in understand and to see if people are difference between what you and out of work to rent a home. getting the right amount of money. receive in benefit and the rent if your allowance is reduced. • Child Tax Credit. This is Most people will use the internet to money that is paid to people ask for Universal Credit, but there Act now, to check that you who have at least 1 child or 1 will be advisers to help people who are getting the benefits you young person living with them. cannot use the internet. are entitled to claim. Call our • Working Tax Credit. This is It is expected that Universal Credit Income Team on 0300 303 1717 money that people get if they will be paid monthly into a bank for advice. have a job and work more account. The amount people get 4 Gorgeous to touch and smell This beautiful sensory garden has been created by the Brynmawr Millennium Community Group. Volunteers worked with schoolchildren and young people on work experience to plant flowers and shrubs that are richly scented and lovely to touch. The water feature is from the old Brynmawr swimming pool, which used to be on the site. Now visitors have somewhere they can go to learn more about the Terence Garden in Brynmawr and enjoy the view thanks to tenants from Tai Calon Community Housing. They had agreed to give the group £3,000 from the Environmental Improvement Fund to build an Observation and Information Centre. The log effect cabin will house information about local wildlife as well as being a great place from where to look out over the garden. If you are part of a community group or tenants and residents association and would like to apply to the Environmental Improvement Fund then please contact the Community Investment team on 0300 303 1717. Kelsey Watkins - Tredegar Valley Natasha Jones - Ebbw Fawr Valley (Ebbw Vale) Chloe Williams - Ebbw Fach Valley 3 5 Cuts Watch Cymru: watching Wales’ cuts People in Wales face some of the toughest challenges to their well-being for decades. Hundreds of thousands of people are already being affected by a weak economy, resulting in job losses, a squeeze on earnings and rising prices. Add to this the prospect of public spending cuts and welfare reform, and the outlook for many could be extremely challenging. Cuts Watch Cymru is a that the state should play in coalition of third sector relation to the voluntary or organisations in Wales who private sectors. We accept have come together to that there are significant examine the impact of cuts economic challenges facing in public spending, and in decision-makers at all levels particular welfare reform, of government, and that it on the lives of people in is always prudent to review Wales. We are concerned spending and service provision that thousands more people decisions.

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