Supporting people with money worries
Our Money Advice Team offers expert advice and support with maximising customers’ income, aiming to reduce debts and provide ongoing budgeting support.
Over the last 12-months, the service has aimed to provide customers with support through a difficult year with the cost-of-living crisis. The team has linked closely with agencies including United Utilities, energy companies, food banks and local charities to support people through ongoing financial pressures.
The next 12-months will continue to be challenging and our service will continue to be flexible in its approach to supporting customers, offering a range of ways to access the service. This will include telephone advice, home visits and office interviews. As more people are looking to get back into work, our team is at hand to offer evening telephone appointments for those who require it.
In 2022/23 our team achieved the following:
£12m
of financial gains and savings achieved for customers.
2,700
families were successfully supported.
217
families accessed money through our hardship fund to support with emergency items.
480
elderly residents accessed financial support.
390
benefit checks were carried out for prospective tenants.
Helping a family with financial worries – case study
We supported a family where a young mum had moved back in with her parents due to financial worries. Our trained advisor identified that mum was entitled to £457 per month Universal Credit and offered to do a financial assessment for her parents, which identified her dad was entitled to Attendance Allowance. Our advisor also progressed a successful Pension Credit claim, which enabled them to claim full housing benefit and council tax support. Family members were £15,000 a year better off. They recently shared how family relations have improved significantly due to fewer financial worries.
Get information on cost of living support at www.boltonathome.org.uk/cost-of-living