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£6m worth of savings for
Hanover residents in last 4 years
A leading national housing provider for
the over 55's, with a number of estates across Merseyside including Maplewood,
Cambridge Road in Southport has once again, exceeded its target to help
residents protect and improve their incomes and save money on energy bills.
For the 4th successive year, Hanover Housing Association's Be Wise service
has generated extra income for residents by providing practical assistance to
help them maximise their incomes, save money with their energy bills, help with
adaptations to their homes and advise on contents insurance designed for their
circumstances.
Each year Hanover has set out to improve residents' finances to the tune of at
least £1million. However, since the service began in 2012 the organisation has
achieved over £6 million worth of savings through increased income and
entitlements via the various Be Wise services.
The success is in a large thanks to Hanover's specialist financial rights,
energy advisers and local housing management teams who have taken Be Wise to
over 170 estates across the UK. This includes providing confidential benefit
assessments, along with the opportunity to look at the various entitlements
residents may be able to access.
In 1 case the financial rights team helped a resident apply for a higher rate
of Attendance Allowance which led to an increase in her housing benefit. Along
with awards of Pension Credit and Council Tax benefit, her annual income
increased by £7,000.
In another example, Hanover's energy efficiency advisor discovered a transposed
meter in a resident's flat which resulted in a refund of £1,600.
The service also provides free phone help lines to answer queries and give
individual advice.
Sharon Moore Financial Rights Manager for Hanover said:- "For several
years we have been seeing a gradual reduction in benefits and welfare assistance
from Government agencies, meaning housing providers are under immense pressure
to deliver the best and most affordable services to residents. By providing
additional support in the form of Be Wise, Hanover is able to help and advise
people on how best to increase their small fixed incomes in order to meet the
costs of living in later years. To have beaten our target so
comprehensively last year was fantastic being able to continually increase the
level of income for our residents is a wonderful achievement." |
