Transcript Document
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 CHALLENGES Levels of debt throughout Teesside Welfare Reforms Bedroom tax Council tax: rise in the number of court summons Number of sanctions: between Oct 2012 and Sept 2014: 9614 sanctions in Middlesbrough 7,834 sanctions in Stockton Low pay / zero hours 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 [email protected] Darlington CAB Jane Beacher Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau Your Money Smart 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 Capability YMS 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 Application We are currently developing a Mobile application for YMS, which should be available soon. Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau YMS Contact Details When viewing the demo, please note that YMS has been significantly updated since the video was made. Darlington Citizens’ Advice Bureau 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-ischanging 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 18/07/2015 CONTENTS 1 Affordability 2 Arrears Support & Reduced Tariff 3 Vulnerable customers and support 4 What role can you play? 5 Next steps 6 Any questions 49 AFFORDABILITY 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 Northumbrian Water Group dedicated to providing assistance to customers who really need the help. 50 AFFORDABILITY Introduction of TWO new schemes………….. ARREARS SUPPORT SCHEME and REDUCED 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. 51 KEY PRINCIPLES –BOTH SCHEMES •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. 52 Arrears Support Qualification rules and reduction amount. Arrears = > 2years Budget surplus will not clear creditor arrears within 3 years.. Customer pays current charges. Once only opportunity Account ownership 53 Reduced tariff qualification rules and reduction amount. 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. 54 How does this affect you? YOU are our link to identifying customers that need the help Contact Talk Recognise Refer Make sure they are on the best tariff for their situation Water Sure or Water Direct possibilities. If meets criteria post ‘Affordability Identified action. 55 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. 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. 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. 56 Next steps Both schemes introduced by 1st January 2015 SupportPLUS Introduce 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 18/07/2015 Discussions Close