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Members’Meeting
20th April 2015
Agenda
10.00am Welcome and introductions followed by a Fincan Update 10.20 am Thrive
10.45 am Darlington CAB 11.15am Comfort Break 11.30am Justice For All
12.00am Northumbrian Water 1.00pm Close and lunch
Fincan Update
Alison Baxter
Thrive
Tracey Herrington
WHAT WE DO Build the capacity of financially and socially excluded members of the community
Take Action
CHALLENGESLevels of debt throughout TeessideWelfare ReformsBedroom taxCouncil tax: rise in the number of court summons
Number of sanctions: between Oct 2012 and Sept 2014:
9614 sanctions in Middlesbrough7,834 sanctions in StocktonLow pay / zero hoursNumbers accessing foodbanks: nationally 913,138 from 61,468 (59,146 used Trussell Foodbanks in the NE)
STIGMA:
THRIVE’S RESPONSE Partnership with Church Action on Poverty: Media project
MENTORING
•What Women Want•Building Financial Resilience
TAKING ACTION Speaking out through local media channels
Speaking out at events
Attendance at All Party Parliamentary Debate in to the Rent to own Sector
Challenging practice in local Job Centres
Living Wage Campaign
Hustings
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
ANY QUESTIONS
Tracey Herrington Thrive Project Manager
Tel: 01642 614126 traceyherrington@thrive-
teesside.org.uk
Darlington CAB
Jane Beacher
Your Money Smart
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Your Money Smart(YMS)
YMS was developed and funded by Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau to help people to budget, save or identify debts and budget for debt payments.
• It is free budgeting web application • It is easy to use• It provides tailored budget advice • It is fully confidential • It works on computers, mobiles and tablets
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
How does YMS work for Individuals?
Financial CapabilityYMS is a budgeting form that people complete with a difference
as it:• Can be tailored to different organisations or areas, so contact
information can be specific to an area or organisation• Warns the individual as to overspends or under- spends so
they can adjust their budgets accordingly• Gives people more control over their financial affairs• Allows people to access and change their budgets or compare
budgets if they are making decisions on new financial situations e.g. new baby etc
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Why is YMS valuable for Geographical Areas or
Organisations?Financial Capability
YMS can provide information for organisations and geographical areas, which may be useful in identifying local issues or issues relating to an organisation as it:
• Provides contact information for a specific area or organisation
• Collects data on the number of people in debt or in financial difficulty
• Provides information on poverty and low income families• Identifies health issues such as the number of people smoking
or spending large amounts on alcohol
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What Does it Look Like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What the On-Line Report looks like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What the On-Line Report looks like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What the On-Line Report looks like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
What the On-Line Report look like
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Printed Reports
A sample of a Printed Report can be seen in your booklet.
Locality or Organisational Reports can also be printed.
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Mobile ApplicationWe are currently
developing a Mobile application for YMS, which should be available soon.
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
YMS Contact Details
Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau
When viewing the demo, please note that YMS has been significantly updated since the video was made.
Break
Newcastle Law Centre
Jayne Edwards
FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
JAYNE EDWARDS
MONDAY 27 APRIL 2015
WE BELIEVE…
• All people should have access to justice regardless of their income
• There are times when using legal skills can be effective in addressing underlying causes of poverty
• It is not enough for people to know about their rights, they must also have the means to challenge injustice
CIVIL LAW
• Welfare Benefits
• Debt
• Employment
• Asylum
• Immigration
• Family
• Housing
LEGAL AID
http://www.theguardian.com/law/datablog/2014/sep/09/legal-aid-in-england-and-wales-what-is-changing
ELIGIBILITY
• Low income or receive certain benefits
• Little money in savings, investments or property
• Have a good chance of winning the case
• Access to a provider
ADVICE SERVICES
• CAB
• Shelter
• Legal Aid Solicitors
• Local Advice Agencies
• Law Centre
WHAT NEXT?
http://www.legalaidteam.com/
https://justiceallianceuk.wordpress.com/
Northumbrian Water
Olwyn Swan
Helping customers to afford their water bills.
Nicky Weavers 21/04/23
CONTENTSCONTENTS
1Affordability
2Arrears Support & Reduced Tariff
3Vulnerable customers and support
4What role can you play?
5Next steps
6Any questions
49
Some customers are experiencing extreme financial hardship.
Life changes or circumstances result in low income or a change in income.
Contractual agreements result in outgoings more than incomings
AFFORDABILITY
50
Northumbrian Water Group dedicated to providing assistance to customers who really need the help.
Introduction of TWO new schemes…………..ARREARS SUPPORT SCHEME
andREDUCED TARIFF SCHEME
Arrears Support – 24 month scheme where customers pay their current ongoing charges with support payments periodically given by NWL to help clear arrears.
Reduced Tariff – an annual reduction in charges to make bills affordable for low incomes.
Encourage customers who feel they would never afford to be able to actually pay.
Help those customers who are making unreasonable sacrifices to pay their bills.
AFFORDABILITY
51
•Customers must go through income and expenditure with StepChange, CAB or Money Advice. This ensures maximum income and realistic spending.
•Customers must provide proof of income.
•Customers must continue to pay what is expected to qualify for reduction or support payment.
KEY PRINCIPLES – BOTH SCHEMES
52
53
Arrears = > 2years
Budget surplus will not clear creditor arrears within 3 years..
Customer pays current charges.
Once only opportunity
Account ownership
Arrears SupportQualification rules and reduction
amount.
54
Budget shows long term deficit.
Annual application for reduction.
Reduction would be deficit matched for the year up to maximum 50% reduction
from annual bill.
Reduced tariffqualification rules and reduction
amount.
55
How does this affect you?
YOU are our link to identifying customers that need the help
Make sure they are on the best tariff for their situation
Water Sure or Water Direct possibilities.
If meets criteria post ‘Affordability Identified action.
56
How to record that you have spoken to a customer?ICIS can footprint an account using an online action. These have been used widely within Collections and can be seen on the Debt Recovery tab of CUSE.
We will then be able to monitor your customer, assisting them where possible and also be able to report on whether they enter the Affordability Scheme.
After your phone call go to the DRHIST screen and click on the ‘Action To Do’ tab. Insert the action code ‘AFFIDENT’ in the Code box. The date will default on by 14 days, if this is not suitable please change the ‘Delay’ or ‘Next Action Date’ field accordingly.
Next steps
Both schemes introduced by 1st January 2015SupportPLUSIntroduce slowly with small numbers
Full roll out April 2015/promotions
Ensure reach out to those who do not have the courage to make the contact - network with support groups/charities.
Website links and information.
Regular feedback and tracking of how accounts are progressing.
Any questions?.
Nicky Weavers 21/04/23
Discussions
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