Wheatley Group helps tenants claim more than £13m in benefits

Wheatley Group has helped tenants across Scotland claim back more than £13 million in welfare benefits in the past 12 months.

benefits

Welfare Benefit Advisors at Scotland’s leading housing, care and property-management group is helping support customers through the cost-of-living crisis.

The Group’s 24 welfare benefits advisors assisted 7386 tenants of Wheatley Homes Glasgow, Wheatley Homes East, Wheatley Homes South and Loretto Housing claim over £13,067,000 in the last financial year.

The figure represents the highest annual amount the Group’s welfare benefits advisors have ever helped customers access.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenant Eddie Myles, from Garscadden, suffered a stroke and asked for support from Wheatley Group’s benefits advisors to claim attendance allowance and pension credit.

Eddie, 69, said: “I worked all my days, from 15 until I was 65, and never asked for anything. But after my stroke, everything changed and it’s a difficult time not knowing what to do.

“If it wasn’t for the help I got from Donna at Wheatley, I don’t know where I’d be. She’s been first class. She explained everything so clearly and helped me. I’d never claimed for anything before, but she helped with all the forms and talked me through everything.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to advise someone to reach out to the welfare advisors for help. When you need that help, it’s great knowing there’s someone there - that makes a big difference.”

Wheatley’s benefits advice is part of the Group’s wraparound support available to customers, which has seen a surge in demand during the cost-of-living crisis.

A recent study published by Wheatley revealed the difficulties many of its customers were having with Universal Credit.

The report, ‘Existing Not Living’, showed 65% of claimants believe the social security payment did not give them enough money to cover their basic needs, while 62% believed it did not help them back into work.

Laura Pluck, Wheatley Group Director of Communities, said: “We’re doing all we can to support our tenants in these difficult times.

“The welfare benefits system can be complex for people to navigate. Tenants may presume they’re already getting all the financial support available or they’re not entitled to anything. Others may worry their claim will be rejected or they struggle to apply online.

“Welfare benefits are a vital safety net for many people on low-incomes, particularly in this cost-of-living crisis. We are here to help tenants claim all of the benefits they are entitled to. The support and advice we can offer is life-changing.”

Wheatley Group offers a wide range of additional support services for tenants who need extra support, including fuel advisors, food vouchers, employability support as part of a £6m ‘Here for You’ campaign.

Tenants who want to book an appointment with a welfare benefit advisor should speak to their housing officer.

Thursday, May 25, 2023