27 January 2021
#HereForYou – budgeting and benefit advice from SBHA
This week our focus is on finance, and we’re catching up with our dedicated Financial Inclusion Team. They may be working from home, but they can still help you manage bills and access benefits that you may not even be aware you were entitled to. If you have debts elsewhere, the FIS Team can also help you work out a plan to tackle these.
Here’s Financial Inclusion Officer Barry Wood on a recent case:
“The Tenant was struggling, and had looked at their expenditure previously but had been unable to see a way that they could save money. They had become resigned to being always in debt and being unable to afford the nicer things in life.
“I helped them to create a new budget plan, which ensured that all costs were covered and no arrears building up.
“This included making sure they were receiving all the benefits they were entitled to; helping them to find a cheaper energy deal; helping them find home contents insurance that was not only cheaper but offered better coverage; and helping them find more affordable broadband and mobile phone deals. The budget plan even worked in a way to save a bit for a rainy day.
“They also know that they can contact me going forward if they ever run into difficulties again.”
Barry’s message:
“If you’re struggling, please don’t bury your head in the sand. We completely understand how overwhelming money worries can be, but we are here to help.”’
