Where could I sign post someone who needs help but doesn’t think they are eligible

[RudsyFarmer]

Hiya,

if anyone has any idea of places I could signpost this person to as they don’t believe they are eligible for help but can’t afford to make ends meet currently and are relying on food banks.

They work full time. Have a key worker job where they must be on just over 20k a year. Single. No dependants. Live in a flat, I assume privately renting. They believe they earn too much for top ups but haven’t gone to citizens advice etc.

Thank you.

Unless they have a high rent they likely will earn too much. The only benefit available would be Universal credit which would give a rent element, but whether they are eligible still depends on earnings. It is also dependent on age as if under 35 they would only receive a shared accommodation rate. They can go onto one of the online benefit calculators to see if they would be eligible. They should also make sure they are claiming single occupancy council tax discount if living alone. Unfortunately on UC, the local housing allowances that they pay up to no where cover actual private rent.

Single people without kids are rarely eligible for anything. I helped someone in a similar situation and they got £1.60 a month universal credit as a result. A pittance.
But she can use theentitled2 online tool. But also accept that she may have looked into this and be right.

At least this year even £1.60 a month would qualify that person for the Government cost of living payments worth £900 so worth claiming.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk is a useful resource and has details of agencies other than CAB who provide free advice.

Google "entitled to calculator".

and if she is eligible for even a small amount of UC which includes housing costs, she could then apply for a DHp via her local council if she is struggling to pay her rent. She could also try applying for Council tax reduction via her council, which is a means tested reduction.
Regardless of entitlement to either of these, she could also try and apply for discretionary help with Council tax as well which could help reduce her overall council tax charge if she is awarded it.

Agree with making a UC application because even if the award is small, there's fairly significant extra help available occasionally. Also, can they apply for a promotion, or do extra (bank?) shifts? If they have been on strike, so lost income, their union may have a hardship fund.

The other thing to do would be to do a thorough review of incomings and outgoings. Something must have changed to put them in this situation as they wouldn't have been eligible for the flat if they couldn't afford it at the outset.

This is likely to be the rising cost of living eroding their disposable income, but is it more than that? Have they been using credit to cover the rising cost of things? Is there anything they can cancel or cut the cost of? Eg broadband, mobile phone? A few tweaks could

They also need to correctly prioritise their outgoings. Pay rent, food, travel to work and council tax first. Does their salary cover these things? They shouldn't be cutting back on food to pay unsecured debt repayments for example. If they are in debt, they need help with this and might be eligible for a DRO.

The Moneysaving Expert Money Makeover is a good place to start and will systematically go through all aspects of budgeting, with signposting to increasing income, cutting costs and getting debt help if necessary.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

They are probably right

But there are online calculators (as linked above) that will help.

If they are nervous and don't want to try the uc application straight away. They could look at www.entitledto as tmut would show if they were entitled to anything.

Tell her to take a walk down her local high street and get a Saturday job, or an evening job in a local pub.
If she earns that much, even rent up to £1200 a month would mean she is doing something daft with the rest of her money. If more than this she needs to move.
She must have outstanding Debt, and the extra income would be able to pay that off, as well as provide for food

Are you for real? That income would net £1469 a month.
So with rent of £1200, the remaining £269 would mean she is 'doing something daft' with her money??
Do you not understand council tax, gas, electric, food, transport, etc??

If you'd said rent of £500, I would be saying the OP could help her budget, but no single person on NMW is being frivolous fgs!!

I would take a second job in her position- I do agree with you- but goodness you have a strange approach!

On 20k, if zero pension contributions, they will be taking home aprox £1400 a month.
Can you show me a budget for that if rent is 1200???

Sorry, I misread, thought it was £30k.

still recommend a second job

Tbh a food bank is a good resource, they often signpost on. But otherwise definitely Citizens Advice.

Invite her round for big dinners. Encourage her to apply for better paid jobs - try to boost her self esteem so she feels up to doing that.

I won’t be telling a grown woman to ‘do’ anything. She has a very responsible role which she has held for over 20 years but due to a relationship breakdown and the COL crisis finds herself in dire need of help. No family nearby unfortunately.

So the online resource in terms of an financial op up would be Entitled to? If she puts in accurate information would that tell her if she was eligible for help? The obviously Citizens Advice which I assume you book an appointment online and they could walk you through any help you might be able to access?

*top up

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

Yes the entitled to calculator is accurate and easy ti use.

CAB appointments are like hens' teeth.

Citizens Advice have a helpline specifically for a Universal Credit calculation

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

They can do the initial calculation and then if there is any eligibility they can help with the application too.

Brilliant! Thank you so much for your help 🙏🏻💐

You can also call the citizens advice helpline, and can advise over the phone,so appointment not usually necessary.