Members’ Meeting 20 th April 2015. Agenda 10.00am Welcome and introductions followed by a Fincan...

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


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


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


What Does it Look Like


What the On-Line Report looks like


What the On-Line Report look like


Printed Reports

A sample of a Printed Report can be seen in your booklet.

Locality or Organisational Reports can also be printed.


Mobile ApplicationWe are currently

developing a Mobile application for YMS, which should be available soon.


YMS Contact Details


When viewing the demo, please note that YMS has been significantly updated since the video was made.

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/

TALK TO US

Jayne Edwards

[email protected]

0191 230 4777

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

Members’ Meeting 20 th April 2015. Agenda 10.00am Welcome and introductions followed by a Fincan...

Documents

Transcript of Members’ Meeting 20 th April 2015. Agenda 10.00am Welcome and introductions followed by a Fincan...