In July, Michelle Ormiston joined the Seaside Team as our new Housing Support Worker. Michelle works with Seaside tenants who are affected by the Benefits Cap. In April, all Seaside Homes tenants saw a rise in their rents due to an increase in the Local Housing Allowance. Seaside Homes rents are set at the Local Housing Allowance so that tenants on benefits can afford their rent without having to pay housing costs from their other benefits. However, when the Local Housing Allowance increased, the Benefits Cap did not, so a number of tenants found their income reduced, some by a large amount.
There are three ways to no longer be affected by the Benefits Cap:
- returning to work, increasing hours worked or being assessed as having limited capacity to work.
- receiving a passport benefit such as PIP (Personal Independence Payment) or DLA (Disability Living Allowance).
- moving to a property with a lower rent, such as a Council property through Homemove.
Michelle receives referrals from the Credit Control team and from the ‘Move on Mentors’ (MoMs) at the Council. Tenants can also get in touch directly if they are benefits capped and would like some
support from Michelle.
Michelle explains: “Being affected by the Benefits Cap can be very stressful. Each situation is different so I try to be as flexible as I can. I meet tenants in libraries, cafes or in their own homes and catch up with them on the phone. My job is to help tenants to come up with a plan, work out the steps they need to take to achieve their goal and offer some support along the way.”
If you are affected by the Benefits Cap, you can get in touch with Michelle by phone: 01273 732061 or by email: michelle.ormiston@seaside-homes.org.uk
