inside bright

Advice from the LHT Income Management Team.
Look inside
for bright
ideas
Issue 19 | Autumn 2015
We
are
50
Liverpool Housing Trust
1965 - 2015

Welcome
Wirral
customers!
It’s great news that
Beechwood and Ballantyne
Community Housing
Association became part of
LHT in September.
We have lots planned to build
on the excellent work carried
out by the Beechwood team
over the last 10 years, and we
are committed to providing an
excellent service to our Wirral
customers.
As a result of the transfer LHT
becomes the fourth largest
housing association in Wirral, and
we have already started
master-planning for the area.
Being Moneywise
in Wirral
We will continue to provide
a rents and income
management service to all
Wirral customers which will
include a full-time presence
at Manor House.
In addition to this we will
complement local advice services
through our dedicated Welfare
Reform Advisors, expert money,
debt and benefits advice via
our contract with RAISE along
with specialist drop-in surgeries
providing a range of money
advice and support.
LHT is being
money wise too!
This year, as part of our
commitment to delivering
better Value for Money, we’ve
taken a digital approach with
our annual report.
You will be able to read the report in
full on our website www.lht.co.uk in
early December. Check facebook
and twitter as we’ll be posting
about our achievements and how
we’ve performed over the last year.
If you would like this information in
print format please request this by
ringing LHT on 0300 555 0131.
Can LHT help you too?
Regular readers of Moneywise will be familiar with the stories
of tenants who we have worked with and helped improve their
finances.
We thought that it would be a good idea, particularly for our new
tenants joining us from Beechwood and Ballantyne Community Housing
Association, to highlight a few recent examples of tenants who LHT have
helped in this, our 50th year.
Maxine Holmes
Maxine has worked closely
with Tammy Kewley, Income
Management Officer to sort out her
housing benefit claim which resulted in a backdated payment, as well as
securing a short-term DHP (Discretionary Housing Payment).
We didn’t just leave it there and Helen Reed, one of our specialist Welfare
Reform Advisors spent time supporting Maxine to claim a range of
additional benefits and Maxine continues to work with Helen.
Maxine said “I know I was burying my head in the sand,
which I shouldn’t have done, but since I started working
with LHT the help and support I have received has been
great. LHT work with me as a person and really care about
what happens.”
Natasha Roks
Natasha first started to work
with LHT after we contacted
her about her rent account.
John Harris, Income Management Officer helped Natasha to access
an online benefits calculator to check whether she was getting all the
benefits she was entitled to.
When Natasha realised she could claim housing benefit John referred
her to RAISE who could provide expert benefits and money advice. A
few weeks later, Natasha’s housing benefit was in payment and she
is now in a much better position to afford her rent and cover her other
financial commitments.
John Cotton
John was having difficulty
paying his bills after being
unable to work due to ill
health. John got in touch with Gemma Feerick, one of our Welfare
Reform Advisors who supported him to apply for a number of benefits,
including Personal Independence Payment.
John went onto say “LHT have great and been there for
me every step of the way. I feel better now I’m getting
back on track with my money and I wouldn’t have been
able to do it without Gemma’s help.”
So if after reading these stories you feel that LHT’s Income
Management Team may be able to also help you then please
give us a ring on 0300 555 0131.
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Dawns’ Money
Saving Tips
Issue 19 | Autumn 2015
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Hello it’s Dawn again bringing you some more
money saving tips. I hope that you found
my Kids Holiday Special in issue 18
useful and helped you save money.
In this edition we start to think about Christmas and
how you can have a great Christmas on a budget.
Set a budget
Make a list of
family and friends
you will be buying
presents for
and allocate an
amount for each
person.
If you are hosting Christmas dinner
consider how many people will be
coming over and how much you
will need to spend on food and
drink.
Secret Santa!
Instead of buying
presents for all your family
and friends why not do
a Secret Santa with a set
limit? Its great fun.
Get together!
On Christmas day why not get
together with family, friends or
neighbours for lunch. It will not only
save time and money but you’ll
also have a
great time
together as
well.
Ask
family
and friends what
they want
This will make shopping easier and
you won’t end up buying unwanted
presents!
See you in the next edition
for more money saving tips
Buy as you go
Buy your food and
presents each week
when you go shopping,
particularly when there are offers
on such as 2 for 1’s! This will save
money and you won’t feel the cost
as much as buying everything in
one go.
Pre-Christmas
Sales
Pick up presents
and other items
such as crackers
or decorations in the sales. Keep a
look out for cheap wrapping paper,
gift bags and decorations in the
pre-Christmas sales.
Go Digital!
You can embrace
the digital age
and e-mail
Christmas cards
to save on postage! There are lots
of free websites that let you create
your own cards, with family photos
and videos.
Have a pre-Christmas
clear out
This could help you put some
money back in your pocket. Once
you’ve put aside anything you no
longer want, make some extra cash
by selling it on line or at local car
boot sales.
If you have any money saving tips that you would like me to
cover in Moneywise then please write to: Dawn Lennon c/o
Beverley Heaton, LHT, 12 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 4AA
Recycle and re-use
Re-use old gift bags, ribbons and
bows that are in good condition
from last Christmas and why not
think about making gift tags out of
old Christmas cards and ribbon.
Be Creative!
Why not make you own
personalised gifts? Buy the items
that you know your family like
and place them in clear plastic
wrapping and tie a bow round.
Prepare vegetables
in advance
Why not blanch
vegetables, place
them in plastic bags
and pop them
in the freezer.
Not only will this save time but it
will also keep the cost down as
vegetables get more expensive
during the festive season.
TOP TIPS
Wrap as
you go!
Start wrapping up presents
now and put them away. As
there’s lots of other things to
do close to christmas.
Don’t forget
the batteries!
Buy any batteries that
you need for the kids
toys or technology in
the run up to Christmas
so you can enjoy those
items on the big day.
Follow us on Twitter @LHThousing Website: www.lht.co.uk Tel: 0300 555 0131
3

Are you struggling to pay your
Gas, Electricity, or Water Bills?
Local Solutions have launched their new fuel debt and water
arrears advice service in partnership with the British Gas
Energy Trust and United Utilities Trust Fund.
They can provide free
support and advice on:
• Maximising your income.
• Budgeting.
• Managing debt.
• Accessing grants to clear
arrears.
• Accessing grants for white goods
such as washing machines,
cookers, fridge/freezers.
• Understanding your bill.
• How to reduce your energy
usage.
• Switching suppliers.
For further information:
Local Solutions Fuel Debt Advice Team Tel: 0800 988 2655
Email: fueldebt@localsolutions.org.uk
Water Arrears Advice Team Tel: 0151 705 2383
Email: waterdebt@localsolutions.org.uk
Or contact LHT’s Income Management Team Tel: 0300 555 0131.
Just what
the Doctor
ordered
Did you know that Liverpool
GP’s can refer to Citizens Advice
Bureau to provide advice on
• Welfare benefits
• Debt
• Money management
• Housing
The Advice on Prescription
Service was launched last year by
Liverpool Clinical Commissioning
Group (CCG) in partnership with
Liverpool CAB.
The project enables all Liverpool
GP’s to refer tenants who they
believe would benefit from
specialist advice on a whole range
of issues including benefits, debt,
housing and employment issues.
The project can provide timely
advice access to advice and
support and many people have
already benefitted from the
scheme, with a positive impact on
health and well-being by reducing
hardship, debt levels and isolation.
4
4
Free, confidential and impartial
support and guidance
Liverpool Citizens Advice
Partnership is now able
to accept referrals to
their Improving Financial
Capability project from
outside Liverpool.
So if you are an LHT tenant
living in any of our areas you
can now get free, confidential
and impartial support and
guidance from a Financial
Capability Volunteer to help
you with:
• Opening Bank, Credit
Union or Building Society
accounts.
• Budgeting, priority and
non-priority expenditure and
maximising your income.
• Meeting essential expenditure such
as rent, council tax, gas, electric,
water, phone & broadband, TV
licence, insurances, food and
furniture.
• Setting up direct debits and standing
orders e.g. to pay your rent.
• Using online comparison websites to
get a better deal on fuel, telecoms,
etc.
• How to use an online to help benefit you with:
calculator to check entitlement and
basic help with claims.
• Help with reading meters and
understanding bill formats.
• Additional signposting where
required to CAB advisors or other
supporting agencies.
FREE, CONFIDENTIAL AND IMPARTIAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
Please note that all advice
and support is undertaken
at Liverpool Citizens Advice
Liverpool Citizens Advice Partnership are now able to accept referrals to their
Improving Financial Capability Partnerships project from outside offices. the city of Liverpool.
For further information please
So if you are an LHT tenant living in any of our areas you can now get free,
confidential and impartial support contact and either: guidance from a Financial Capability Volunt
LHT’s Income Management Team
on 0300 555 0131
You can also contact Liverpool
Citizens Advice Partnership direct.
Email: emma@liverpoolcap.org.uk.
Telephone: 0151 733 8833
Or visit: www.liverpoolcap.org.uk/
projects/ifc.
•Opening Bank, Credit Union or Building Society accounts
•Budgeting, priority and non-priority expenditure and maximising your income
•Meeting essential expenditure such as rent, council tax, gas, electric, water, pho
& broadband, TV licence, insurances, food, furniture
•Setting up direct debits and standing orders e.g. to pay rent
•Using online comparison websites to get a better deal on fuel, telecoms, etc.
•How to use an online benefit calculator to check entitlement and basic help with
claims
www.facebook.com/Liverpool Housing Trust ‘Like’ us for latest news, information and happenings.
•Help with reading meters and understanding bill formats

Issue 19 | Autumn 2015
£250 cash could be yours
In the summer
of 2011, LHT
introduced a
quarterly Clear Rent
Account Draw.
Since it started 15 tenants
have won £250. Could you
be number 16?
To qualify you have to:
✔ Have a clear rent account
✔ Have no other debt with LHT.
e.g. re-charges, court costs
✔ Have no breaches of
tenancy. eg ASB
✔ Have your gas servicing up to
date.
If you comply with these then
you will be automatically
included in the draw and you
could be randomly selected at
the end of the quarter to win the
£250 reward. For further details
please call 0300 555 0131.
Are you looking
for work, training
or volunteering
opportunities?
Murdishaw Work Club is an
initiative designed to help local
residents who are searching for
employment, apprenticeships,
training and volunteering
opportunities.
The ‘drop in’ facility offers support
to local job seekers with provision
of laptops with free internet access
and staff are on hand to help
with job searches, CV’s, basic IT
training and much more.
LHT residents can also access
How do I achieve a clear rent
account?
• Pay rent on time.
• Keep housing benefit informed of
any changes in circumstances.
• If affected by bedroom tax
ensure you are paying the correct
amount.
• Deductions for under occupancy
is 14% of rent for 1 bedroom and
25% for 2 bedrooms.
• If receiving Universal Credit
ensure you claim the housing
element.
• Respond to any letters sent by
LHT.
• Keep in contact with Income
Management Officer, we are here
to help, we want to help.
Murdishaw Work
Club now
open
funding for training and
employment through the Future
Fund and Help 2 Work Fund.
We are available:
Every Friday 10am - 12 noon
at Murdishaw Community
Centre, Barnfield Avenue,
Runcorn.
For more information about online
support in your area, contact the
Regeneration Team on
0300 555 0131.
New Service
at LHT’s
North Office
Since July 2015 Big
Lottery Funded Project
New Direction has been
providing a drop in service
from LHTs North Office.
New Direction Worker Mabel
Dainty is available to support
LHT tenants every Thursday
between 9am -12 noon.
Mabel can provide a range of
support including:
• Completing benefit forms,
ensuring you are receiving all
you are entitled to and helping
to deal with benefit queries.
• Applying for additional grants.
• Supporting you with choosing
and opening a Bank or Credit
Union Account.
• Helping to set up direct debits
and standing orders.
• Using online comparison
sites to get the best deals
and support with making the
switch.
• Making small changes to help
your money go further.
• Signposting to specialist
services if requires.
Drop in to see her.
If you are unable to attend the
drop in service there is no need
to miss out.
Contact New Direction directly at
Tel: 0151 482 2456 and ask for
Phil Heaton or Email: pheaton@
benefitsadviceteam.co.uk.
You can also contact LHT Income
Management Team and request
a referral on 0300 555 0131.
Follow us on Twitter @LHThousing Website: www.lht.co.uk Tel: 0300 555 0131
5

Saving Money
As we are fast approaching the winter months
and at a time when fuel bills are rising LHT
are raising awareness of fuel poverty and
providing help and advice to our tenants.
As part of this campaign we have highlighted some information that may be useful:
EPP has provided free impartial and
expert advice for over 19 years and
operates a free advice line available to
residents.
Their trained energy advisors offer advice on
price comparisons as well as information on
grants and discounts available to residents to
help make their homes more energy efficient.
For more information call 0800 043 0151 (Mobiles
with free call time can use 0151 637 3670)
They also have a website full of useful information
and advice www.epplus.org.uk
BRITISH GAS
ENERGY TRUST
The British Gas Energy Trust contributes
to the relief of poverty, with a particular
focus on fuel poverty, helping those who
are struggling to pay for their consumption
of gas and electricity get back on their feet
and remain debt free going forward.
You do not necessarily need to be a British Gas
customer to apply.
You can make an online application or the form
can be printed out and posted, it can take up to 6
weeks for applications to be processed.
Further information can be found on their website
www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk or by Telephone
on 01733 421 060.
REAPPLY FOR WARM
HOME DISCOUNT
For winter 2015 to 2016, you could get £140
off your electricity bill through the Warm
Home Discount Scheme.
The money isn’t paid to you - it’s a one-off discount
on your electricity bill, usually between September
and March.
You may have applied for this previously, however
there is no automatic entitlement to this so you will
need to reapply.
There are also certain criteria you must meet, for
example if you are currently in receipt of pension
premium, Child or Working Tax Credit or Disability
Living Allowance. To apply for this please contact
your electricity supplier.
UNITED UTILITIES
The United Utilities Trust
Fund is an independent
grant making trust established in early 2005.
As a registered charity; the Trust is helping people
out of poverty and debt and policy and grant making
is overseen by independent Trustees who ensure that
the money goes where it is most needed.
People unable to meet the cost of water charges and
who live in the United Utilities area can apply for help.
In certain cases, the Trust can also consider giving
some help to meet other essential bills, household
needs or priority debts.
If you wish to apply for a grant then please visit their
website - www.uutf.org.uk If you would like more
information please call: 0845 179 1791.
If you require additional help, you can
contact your Income Management
Officer on 0300 555 0131.
WIN £25
gift voucher
If you found this useful
then why not try our fuel
poverty word search on
the back page.
6
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Issue 19 | Autumn 2015
Credit Unions Update
LHT has deposited
£25,000 with both
Central Liverpool
Credit Union and
Halton Credit
Union.
This cash will mean more tenants
can use the credit unions, rather
than resorting to pay-day loans,
expensive doorstep lenders, or
illegal loan sharks.
The interest payable on a credit
union loan of £500 over a year is in
the region of £50, compared with
about £410 on a typical doorstep
loan for the same amount, this
means people are paying more
than they need to and that money
is lost to the community.
Mum-of-five Tracy Jones, aged
47, believes the investment from
LHT will make a huge difference
to struggling families who feel they
have no choice but to borrow from
expensive doorstep lenders.
Tracy, from Windmill Hill in Runcorn
and a member of Halton Credit
Union for 10 years, said: “I joined
to get me away from a really
expensive company that came
knocking door to door. I’d been
borrowing from them a lot and the
interest was ridiculous.
“With the credit union, the
payments were much lower and
they were always there to help if I
was struggling to manage. Now I
borrow and save with them.
“This investment from LHT is unreal
and will help lots of people to
borrow safely.”
Eileen Halligan, Chief Executive
at Central Liverpool Credit Union,
said: “We’re delighted to have
LHT as a corporate member and
look forward to working with them
to provide a comprehensive,
supportive and much-needed
financial service to their tenants
and staff.
Central Liverpool and Wirral Credit Union
comes to the Beechwood and Ballantyne estate
Tenants from the
Beechwood and Ballantyne
estate on the Wirral have
recently transferred to LHT.
At a recent open day Central
Liverpool and Wirral Credit
Union staff came along to talk to
residents about the benefits of
Tracy Jones, Halton Credit Union member
“It is a service that we can say with
confidence the tenants will benefit
from.”
Christine Heesom, General
Manager at Halton Credit Union,
added: “We are really pleased
to welcome LHT on board as
a corporate member and the
£25,000 they are investing will be a
useful and welcome resource that
enables us to provide many people
with affordable loans.”
becoming a member of a Credit
Union.
Central Liverpool Credit Union
have recently extended their
common bond area to Wirral and
are delighted that they can offer
a service to Beechwood and
Ballantyne residents.
LHT making a difference
• Almost 500 tenants referred to RAISE for specialist benefit
advice in the first 6 months of 2015/16!
• Since April 2015 our Welfare Reform Advisors have carried
out over 400 visits providing an expert, friendly, face to face
service in your home . . . plus another 500 phone calls!!
• Over 20 tenants referred to RAISE every week for expert
money guidance!
• Tenants and their families are over a quarter of a million
pounds better off in 2015/16 as a result of the work of our
Welfare Reform Advisors!
Over £6,500 of
additional benefits
generated every day
as a result of RAISE
referrals!
Follow us on Twitter @LHThousing Website: www.lht.co.uk Tel: 0300 555 0131
7

Domestic Abuse -
how can we help?
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic violence and abuse
can occur at the hands of
partners, ex-partners and
close family members.
It does not just affect women but
also men and can occur between
same sex couples. Parents can
be victims of domestic abuse at
the hands of their teenage or adult
children.
Young people aged between 16
and 18 can also be victims too.
Remember that domestic violence
and abuse is not just about actual
physical violence. It can also be
about:
• Financial abuse
• Verbal abuse and insults
• Threats and intimidation
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Controlling behaviour, such as who
you can and can’t talk to
• Stalking
Domestic abuse also includes honourbased
violence and forced marriage.
What can LHT do to help you?
LHT will respond in a non-judgemental
way and discuss confidentiality
and what options are available to
you. These options may include:
counselling and support, personal
safety planning, legal remedies,
such as non-molestation orders and
injunctions, security measures and
assistance with rehousing.
LHT will listen to you, find out how
they can help and agree with you the
actions they can take to assist you.
This may include referring you to other
agencies so you get the best support
and help.
Issue 19 | Autumn 2015
HOW CAN I
GET HELP?
Police 101 or 999 if you are in
immediate danger
National Centre For Domestic
Violence 0844 8044 999
South Liverpool Domestic
Abuse Service 0800 028 3398
Honour Network Helpline
0800 5999 247
Forced Marriage Unit 0207
008 0151
Halton Domestic Abuse
Service 0300 1111 247
Liverpool Domestic Abuse
Service 0151 263 7474
LHT
0300 555 0131
Clear Rent Account
Winner
Our latest clear rent
account winner was:
• Miss Jones from Runcorn
She was delighted with
her £250 cheque.
WIN
£250
Competition Winners
Spot the difference
The winner of The Spot the Difference competition
was Tilly Gallagher from Everton, Liverpool.
Colouring competition
The colouring competition was judged by our
Tenants Readers Group and the winner was Annya
Lowe from St Helens.
W G Q B Z G G H K F C J N
I Y W U B H P E F W S N Y
N O P G O L Z Y A U F Z F
T Q E P O V E R T Y G K T
E Z N Q H K M A W P T H B
R C E C D N Y T N A M O Q
I S R O S Y R N P Y L M N
S O G T E T D U Y M G E H
U Z Y A V T T O G E K R H
Z W N W S O I C K N H E N
U P Z H D Y M S J T T R A
P T A Y P F B I L L S X S
G L V X O U P D V A M B B
Wordsearch
One of these words does not appear in the grid. Tell us
the missing word for a chance to win £25 Bonus Bonds!
POVERTY ENERGY WARM HOME DISCOUNT
WINTER GAS FUEL PAYMENT BILLS
The missing word is...........................................................
Name.................................................................................
Address.............................................................................
Return to Income Management
Team, LHT, 12 Hanover Street,
Liverpool, L1 4AA.
Closing date is Monday
4th January, 2016.
LAST EDITION’S
WINNER WAS MR
WILLIAMS FROM
CREWE, CHESHIRE