Support For Caerphilly Tenants

Over the last year, the Tenancy Support Officers from Caerphilly Homes team at Caerphilly County Borough Council visited 2,200 tenants offering advice and support to enable tenants to sustain their tenancies by helping them to claim an additional £493,000 of welfare benefits, housing benefits and water savings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, more intensive support has been provided to more than 260 tenants by Caerphilly Homes Floating Support staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr and Mrs Moore from Risca are amongst those to have been helped by this type of support and as a result have been able to access benefits that they were entitled to but had not previously claimed. Mrs Moore said “It’s changed our lives completely. Everyone should now about the service offered. The girls are angels.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tenancy Support Officers have also applied for grants from the Discretionary Assistance Fund and charities to secure white goods on behalf of tenants in receipt of certain benefits who are also in financial hardship. Over the last year, they have been successful in obtaining 56 cookers, 42 fridge freezers and 35 washing machines. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly Homes support staff also work in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide debt advice surgeries in local venues around Caerphilly county borough. During the last year, appointments have been arranged for 215 tenants who have been struggling with debt. Where tenants were unable to leave their homes to attend these surgeries, Citizen Advice Bureau staff have been able to visit tenants in their own homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. David Poole, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing said: “Staff are doing a tremendous job in supporting tenants to claim benefits that they are entitled to. It is marvellous to see tenants who are often some of our most vulnerable residents receiving such financial assistance and also securing essential household items that otherwise they may not have been able to afford. Support of this kind is invaluable when it comes to preventing tenants from falling into debt. We have had some wonderful feedback from our tenants who are very happy with the fantastic support that they have been given. I would like to congratulate the Caerphilly Homes team for all their hard work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tenants with annual household incomes of less than £15,000 may be able to sign up for a new tariff called HELP U introduced by Welsh Water which offers large savings on water costs to tenants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​