Curo News

Curo’s support services have social value of £39.8m

Mon, 13 May 2024 16:29:26 Z

The impact of Curo’s support services was worth more than £39.8m to communities across the South West in 2023/24. The services have averted homelessness, prevented mental health crises escalating, given people a suitable home after leaving hospital, helped people find jobs and more.

Curo measure their social impact using the Social Value Bank, a tool developed by Charitable Housing Trust. This quantifies the social, health and economic benefits and outcomes of an organisation’s services in monetary terms.

“We’re incredibly proud of these results, which powerfully illustrate the benefit of our support services,” says Jack Bailey, Head of Operations. “By providing interventions that help address the root causes of social issues and improve outcomes, we can help reduce costs to the public purse in the long term.”

Curo’s Stepdown and Wellbeing House services saved a total of 2,708 hospital bed stays, with a social value of £730,406. Stepdown frees up hospital beds by providing accommodation for patients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital, but who can’t yet return to their homes.

Wellbeing House offers respite in beautiful surroundings to people who are struggling with their mental health. Anyone aged over 18 who lives in, or is registered with a GP in, B&NES can stay. It’s a place for pre-crisis support, offering breathing space and connecting residents with other organisations.

The Wellbeing House

Curo’s Independent Living Service and Livewell service together delivered almost £29m in social value. These services support older customers to live happy and healthy lives in their own homes or in sheltered accommodation.

Meanwhile, our homelessness services, including The Foyer and Pathways supported housing for young people, saved nearly £6m.

Curo’s Work Wise team offer support to gain employability skills, build confidence and enter into new work experience placements, helping people get into employment. In 2023/24 they generated £1,807,566, in social value, providing employability and training support on 1,064 occasions, enabling 177 people to access employment and a further 315 to access volunteering opportunities.

Universal Credit and the 53-week year

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:28:03 Z

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that customers who receive Universal Credit will need to pay an extra week’s rent in March 2025. This is despite Curo campaigning alongside the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, to ask the DWP to change a rule behind the additional payment.

The payment is due because in a normal year Universal Credit pays for 52 weeks of rent. There are 52 Mondays in a normal year, meaning 52 weekly charges. But every five to six years, there are 53 Mondays in a year instead. 2024/25 is one of those years. The issue is that Universal Credit payments only recognise 52 weeks of rent. Customers on Universal Credit will need to pay this extra week themselves.

If you receive Universal Credit, please contact us. Our Money Advice team has access to grants and funds that can help you pay for this extra week. Don’t wait until next year, get in touch now so that we can find you a solution and put your mind at rest. Call us on 01225 366000, or email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk.

Curo’s Money Advice service puts £1.1m in customers’ pockets

Thu, 04 May 2023 08:59:59 Z

Curo’s Money Advice service has put more than £1.1 million into customers’ pockets over the past year.

An experienced and friendly team of advisors work in-house at Curo. They use their in-depth knowledge of budgeting, debt management, benefits and grants to help customers manage their finances and access money they wouldn’t otherwise get.

“The team are delighted that we’ve been able to help ease the financial pressures on our customers,” says Sarah Rogers, Customer Accounts Manager at Curo (pictured). “Our Money and Benefit Advice services have been a real lifeline for customers during the current Cost of Living crisis, which has seen many struggling with soaring food and energy prices. These figures speak for themselves in showing how the service supports our customers into a better financial place. It’s life-changing for many.”

Transforming finances

The Money Advice service helped transform the finances of customer Brigid Nolan. “It’s a godsend that the service has managed my finances,” she says. “I’ve never felt so supported in my life. It makes me feel so good that Curo colleagues cared enough to help me.”

The complex benefits maze makes it difficult for many customers to know what they’re entitled to. Money Advice colleagues identify the benefits customers should apply for and support them every step of the way in claiming. In total, they’ve helped customers claim £68,276, or £734 per customer supported in the past year.

Financial knowledge

Money Advice colleagues also use their financial knowledge to help customers reduce their debt, expenditure and rent arrears, while increasing their income and accessing charity and grant payments. This has made customers a total of £291,192 better off, or an average of £4,282 per customer supported. In total, the Money Advice service accessed £103,186 in backdated benefits and charity and grant payments in the past year.

Curo’s Passport to Housing service has saved customers a total of £743,533, or £3,541 per customer supported. Passport to Housing is a free and confidential service offered by Curo to help people bidding for homes through Bath & North East Somerset's Homesearch and South Gloucestershire's Homechoice schemes to prepare for a successful Curo tenancy and plan for the expense of moving home.

Money worries? Get in touch

“Our message to customers is, if you’re having trouble with money, it’s always worth giving Curo’s Money Advice service a call,” says Sarah. “We have access to grants and funds that you may not know about. Please don’t suffer in silence – pick up the phone and get in touch.”

Customers can contact the service either by phone on 01225 366000, or by email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk. We really want to help.

Listen to episode four of the Cost of Living podcast

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 09:58:54 Z

In our latest episode, Tania Reason, Benefits Advisor at Curo, talks about the benefits that customers may be missing out on.

It’s easy to get lost in the complex benefits maze, but the Money Advice service has the latest information on what support is available. Tania explains how she’s there to support customers every step of the way in their applications.

“If you’re entitled to benefits, why struggle when we can help you to apply?” she says.

Tania also dispels some popular myths about claiming benefits and reveals the most common benefits customers may be missing out on.

The threshold for applying for benefits is increasing this year so if you haven’t been eligible for certain benefits in the past, you may now qualify, she adds.

Our Cost of Living podcast offers advice to customers on everything from benefits to help finding work.

In each episode, Marianne Rawlins, Communications and Media Manager at Curo, talks to people who can help.

If you’ve got an idea for a topic we should cover in a future episode, please email communications@curo-group.co.uk

Listen to the podcast here or you can find all episodes here.

Curo · Episode 4: Benefits - are you missing out?

Benefits advice for older people

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:18:49 Z

Curo Benefits Advisor Tania Reason explains the support that older customers may be missing out on and how we can help.

As a Benefits Advisor at Curo, I love that I can help to increase our customers’ incomes. Sometimes people come to us and they’re really struggling. But I can support them to access the benefits they’re entitled to, so that they don’t have to worry anymore.

I can help people over the phone or we can make an appointment to see them in person. Lots of older people prefer to meet up so that we can go through their paperwork together. I’ll find out what they’re entitled to and support them to apply.

I’d say 8 out of 10 people who come to us aren’t claiming the benefits they’re entitled to, simply because they don’t know what’s available.

Tania Reason pictured above

The most common benefits older people miss out on are Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, which helps with extra costs if you have a disability. People claiming Attendance Allowance can get up to £92.40 a week to help with personal support.

Pension Credit acts as a gateway benefit. So, if you get Pension Credit, you could be eligible for full Housing Benefit and may not have to pay Council Tax. Pension-aged people who are entitled to Pension Credit and a disability payment – for example Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance - could get up to £1,350 in Cost of Living Payments this year.

I can also look into whether customers can get the Warm Home Discount. And a lot of people don’t know about the Cold Weather Payments - you could get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 April.

Another myth is that you can’t claim benefits if you’re working, but if you’re on a low income, you could be entitled to Universal Credit. The threshold for Universal Credit is increasing, so even if you weren’t eligible last year, you may be eligible this year. If you get Universal Credit, you can get the £900 Cost of Living Payment. Universal Credit also gives you access to things like cheaper broadband. So it’s worth claiming Universal Credit even if you only get 1p – just get in touch with us on the contact details below and we can do a quick check.

Older people can be proud about their finances and we understand that it’s a really personal topic. But our service is completely confidential. If you’re worried about money, we’re here to help, without judgement. I always tell older people that they’ve worked hard all their lives, they should claim what they’re entitled to. Please don’t be afraid to get in touch. Call the Money Advice service on 01225 366000, or email: customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk

What does the Government's May 2022 cost of living announcement mean for your wallet?

Tue, 31 May 2022 13:56:40 Z

On 27 May 2022, the Government announced a £15 billion package of actions to provide support to millions of households across the UK struggling with the rising cost of living. These measures include a discount on energy bills, a one-off cost of living payment for those on means-tested benefits and in receipt of disability benefits, as well as a £500m increase to the Household Support Fund.

Here's a summary of these measures:

Energy Bills Support Scheme:
Households will receive £400 of support with their energy bills through the expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Means-tested one-off Cost of Living Payment
More than 8 million households on means-tested benefits will receive a payment of £650 this year. This will be in two instalments: one in July and one in the autumn. There's no need to apply, it will be paid automatically if you're eligible. Here's a list of the means-tested benefits:

Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
Income Support
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Pension Credit

One-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
Pensioner households will received an extra £300 this year to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter.

£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
In September 2022, those in receipt of disability benefits will receive a one-off payment of £150.

£500m increase and extension of Household Support Fund
The Government is providing an extra £500 million of local support through the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from October 2022 to March 2023.

The Household Support Fund helps vulnerable households, with the money allocated through local authorities. We look forward to hearing from them individually to understand how Curo customers could access this pot of money.

This package of support is welcome news at a time when increasing numbers of people are in need of extra support. It's positive that the Government has recognised the need to support families on the lowest incomes through this crisis.

If you need help with bills, contact us and ask for our Customer Accounts Team or email them directly on customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk.

If you get Government payments into a Post Office account, take action

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:37:52 Z

Do you get tax credits, Child Benefit or Guardian’s Allowance paid into a Post Office account? If so, you'll need to transfer your account by 5 April 2022.

HMRC will stop making payments to Post Office card accounts after 5 April. Tell HMRC your new account details so you don’t miss out on these payments. If you miss this deadline, your payments will be paused until you tell HMRC your new account details.

Here's what to do:

Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers, either:

use your Personal Tax Account to provide new account details,
change your bank account details at Gov.uk, or
contact the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100.

Tax credits customers:

change your bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900.

If you cannot open a bank account you should contact HMRC.

If you've been holding out in the hope that this doesn't go ahead, 5 April marks the end of a one-off extension the Post Office and HMRC agreed. It's unlikely a further extension will be given.

There's more information about this at Gov.uk.

Take your meter readings on 31 March to avoid being overcharged

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 07:00:00 Z

Today, 31 March, is the day to take and submit your gas and electricity meter readings before the energy price cap goes up on 1 April 2022.

Doing this will make sure your energy bills are at the lower rate for as long as possible. That's because your energy supplier will try to estimate how much energy you used before and after the price cap went up. So it’s in your best interest to submit up to date meter readings to make sure you only pay the higher rate for energy you use after 1 April.

How to read & submit readings

If you have a smart meter, your meter should automatically send readings every day, but it might not do this. So, it's still worth making a note of your readings today (you could take a photo).

The price cap is the maximum amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy on a standard tariff.

If you have an older prepayment meter, you could top up with energy at the lower price - worth doing if you can afford it. This won’t work with smart prepayment meters – they will know exactly what you used and when.

If you're a Curo resident and struggling with bills, please ask us for help.

Money saving tips

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:44:24 Z

The excellent MoneySavingExpert website is packed with practical tips for saving money. This page links you directly to information and advice from MoneySavingExpert plus a few other sources including Good Housekeeping.

Phones & internet

There are loads of packages and it can be hard to figure out what’s going to give you best value. Get the latest intel from these Cheapest Mobiles and Cheapest Broadband articles.

Travel & motoring

Book ahead and you could make big savings, however you travel. Try the Cheap Train Tickets article. If you have a car, here’s how to get Cheaper Petrol & Diesel and Cheaper Car Insurance.

Household money & benefits

Have you insured your household contents? Here's info about a policy specially designed for people living in social housing. Also check out this Cheap Home Insurance article. For the latest on gas and electricity deals head to Cheapest Gas & Elec.

Take the MoneySavingExpert Money Makeover to see if you’re getting the best deals. Remember, at Curo our own money advisors can also help you get your household finances in better shape.

Are you getting all the benefits you’re entitled to? We have links to handy benefits calculators here. The MoneySavingExpert 5-Minute Benefits Check-up is also a great tool to try. If you have teenagers, try their Teen Cash Class PDF.

Health

Want to stop smoking? Quitting is good for your health and your pocket. Check the NHS Quit Smoking page for life-changing help, and in B&NES the free Stop Smoking Service is here.

Many medicines are available cheaper as 'generic' products, rather than big brand names and the quality will be the same. You could also get prescription 'season tickets'. The Cheaper Prescriptions and Medications article explains all.

Reclaiming Council Tax

Many homes are in the wrong Council Tax band. It's quick and easy to check your property. Changing band could save £200 a year. Read this Council Tax Reclaiming guide.

Everyday living

MoneySavingExpert's Old-Style Board is all about saving money by simply "doing things how they used to be done". See if anything there works for you. Their Cheap Online Shopping and Supermarket Shopping pages are packed with tips and techniques that are certain to save.

All things financial

If you're struggling to get a bank or savings account, try a credit union. For tips on opening a bank account head here. If you're overdrawn, you can tell your bank how to use new money coming in to pay priority debts instead of paying off your overdraft - here's how.

MoneySavingExpert has handy articles on the Best Balance Transfers and Top Savings Accounts. And if you have a good credit score, look up their Credit Card Freebie Loopholes - plus... ever heard of Stoozing?

Owing money

There's a lot of support available if you're in debt. The sooner you ask for help, the easier it'll be to get things back on track. We have our own budget planner here and MoneySavingExpert also have a great tool. Please always talk to our Customer Accounts team if debt becomes a problem.

There's a lot of good advice in this Debt Problems: Where To Go, What To Do article. If you owe money, it's important to know what should be paid back first. These are called priority debts - always start with these.

The golden rule is: never resort to a loan shark. There are always better ways to tackle debt.

Check your workplace benefits

If you're employed, check what benefits your your employer might offer - some provide healthcare plans or help with childcare.

Turn unwanted stuff into cash

No longer need it? Exchange it for money using a resale site like Depop, Vinted or eBay (others available!). These can also be good places to grab a preloved quality bargain.

Go paperless for less

Many utility companies will offer you a better deal if you become an online-only customer. Plus, you'll usually be able to monitor and manage your account using a smartphone.

BOGOF doesn't always pay

BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) deals can look tempting. But in the UK the average person spends £1,300 more on BOGOF deals than they need to each year.

Claim working from home tax relief

If you’re working from home because of the pandemic, you could be eligible to claim money back for expenses. This is as tax relief paid by HMRC. You can only claim this if you have to work from home, not just if you choose to.

Online shopping? Go incognito to get better deals

Switching to incognito mode when shopping online makes it harder for companies to track what products you've viewed and then put prices up. This can make a big difference for big purchases like holidays.

Stay on track

Some banks offer handy tools to help you limit what you spend. For example Monzo lets you transfer a pot of spending money to your card. There are also prepaid cards including Monese and Transferwise where you can only spend what you load onto the cards. Or you could use a separate account for everyday spending, with its own card, and only transfer your weekly spending money onto it.

Are you over-insured?

It's important to have the right cover in place, but check you're not paying for more than you need. For example if you drive less because of the pandemic, you could get a cheaper car insurance deal with limited mileage. And always compare, don't auto-renew - try sites like CompareTheMarket and MoneySupermarket.

Christmas is coming!

Isn't it always? We love Festive Flyers, where readers share ideas for their best gifts that are under a fiver (plus plenty more ideas for a Christmas to remember that won't break the bank).

Getting hitched?

Make your big day special without costing the earth. Here's How to have a MoneySaving Wedding.

Water savings

Nearly three quarters of the water used in a typical home is used in the bathroom. A tap left running for just one minute can use nine litres of water. Turning off the tap when brushing teeth, washing or shaving could save 18 litres alone. Ask Wessex Water for their free water-saving pack. It includes:

a four-minute shower timer
a gadget that will save you 1.2 litres every time you flush
a leaky loo strip to check whether your toilet cistern is leaking water
a tap kit that could save up to 18 litres a day

There are loads more tips at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

It's easier than ever to manage your rent and money at MyCuro

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:30:35 Z

Rent statements on demand

Although we no longer routinely post rent statements to customers, we've made it easy to request your own rent statement based on the dates you choose. You can do this online, 24 hours a day using MyCuro. Your statement will be created automatically and added to the ‘My Accounts > My Documents’ section of MyCuro. We'll email you as soon as it's ready.

Manage your money online

We’ve also made it easier for you to find all the information money and rent information you need on MyCuro. We’ve split all the money information across three pages. Head to:

My Accounts - for your rent balances, payments and statements on demand,
Account Support - where you can send questions and requests to our Customer Accounts team, and
Direct Debits - for viewing payments, setting up a new Direct Debit or changing an existing one.

Give it a try today.

Click here to log in or register.

To register with MyCuro all you need is your tenancy ID or account number.

Overdrawn? You can tell your bank how to use money that comes in

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:34:05 Z

Did you know that we all have the right to say how money paid into our bank account is used?

Most people don’t know this. If your bank account is overdrawn, you can tell the bank not to use money going into your account to reduce the level of your overdraft. Instead, you can use this money to pay for bills, rent etc first.

This is called the 'First Right of Appropriation'.

How do I set this up?

You will need to contact your bank or building society and let them know, in writing, that the payments being made into your account are to be used to pay for specific items, which you will need to list. You can even set this up if the bank has already used your money to reduce the overdraft, and can ask for a full or partial refund.

What do I need to say in my letter?

In your letter, you will need to include your account details, name and address, the amount being deposited and on what date the money will be paid in. You will need to formally request that you want to exercise your ‘first right of appropriation’ and to mention what essential bills you need to cover, how much, on what date and for how long. We recommend you send your letter before a deposit is made and to keep a copy just in case.

Here's an example letter

Creditor name and address:
Account/Agreement No:
Your name and address:
Date:

To whom it may concern,

I wish to exercise my first right of appropriation.

A payment of £___ will be paid into the above account on (date).

The account is currently overdrawn. However I need the money to meet my living costs, utilities and rent payments over the next week.

I want to use the ‘first right of appropriation’ to reserve the £___ for this purpose and will withdraw the sum of £___ on (date) in order to do so.

I’ll contact you separately to make an arrangement to reduce my overdraft.

Yours faithfully,

(Print name)

Have any questions? Need help? Contact our friendly Customer Accounts team who will help you through this process.

Curo’s in house Money Advice Service – life changing!

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:26:31 Z

Curo customer Stephanie (not her real name) shares her experience of using Curo’s Money Advice Service. When Stephanie got in touch she was living on her own in a two-bedroom house, unable to work due to her health and getting into debt.

I got involved with the Money Advice Service at Curo, as I was struggling to pay the bedroom tax and fell into rent arrears. I had also fallen behind with my utilities.

I was unable to come to Curo’s office for an appointment but was quickly reassured that a home visit could be arranged. At my money advice appointment, I was made aware of applications that could help me with my water bills such as the WaterHelp scheme, and Discretionary Housing Payments which could pay towards my rent arrears.

Once the appointment was over, Curo’s money advisor, Sam, gave me an action plan based on what we’d agreed. In the plan were things I needed to do and tasks Curo would carry out for me. Everything I told Sam was completely confidential which put me at ease. She was very friendly and non-judgemental, which was important to me, as I felt embarrassed about my situation.

With my ill health, Sam advised me to apply for Personal Independent Payment, sickness benefit and Universal Credit with a ‘Limited Capability for Work’. We did a benefit calculation to estimate what I could be entitled to, which was surprisingly quick and easy.

Once Universal Credit was agreed we could then apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with my arrears and the bedroom tax for a period. Sam helped me with the claims and submitted them on my behalf. You must have an assessment for some sickness benefits, and Sam attended and assisted me with this appointment, which was a great relief.

I completed all my actions for Sam, and she kept in touch with me throughout with offers of help, support and reassurance.

The outcome was amazing. My Discretionary Housing Payment was awarded to clear the full amount of my arrears.

My water application was successful for Restart and Assist [Wessex Water payments schemes]. I had to pay a token payment of £1 per month and the balance of my water debt would be written off at the end of the 24-month plan.

My Personal Independent Payment was awarded after the assessment and I received a back payment to the date I called for the form, over £1,400 (approximately 21 weeks).

My Limited Capability for Work claim was awarded after a 23-month wait for an assessment due to Covid-19, and I was paid a backdated payment of over £7,000.

With Sam’s expertise, she maximised my income by over £600 per month. This meant that I could pay the bedroom tax to avoid any further arrears. I was also offered help if I wanted to downsize to a one-bedroomed property. Curo have a great service called Passport to Housing [to prepare for a successful home move], which I said I would consider.

I can’t thank Sam at Curo enough. I would never have been able to do this without her. It’s changed my life for the better.

If you have money worries, or think you might be entitled to any benefits, pick up the phone and speak to Curo’s Customer Accounts team on 01225 366000 or email customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk

Many benefits go unclaimed every year, and some passport you to help with your rent and Council Tax. It’s your right to claim. What have you got to lose?

Money worries? We can help

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:44:37 Z

At Curo there’s a lot of support available for customers struggling with rent and other bills. One way we can help is by accessing a range of emergency funds, grants, food parcels and wellbeing resources on behalf of Curo residents.

Curo Regional Customer Accounts Manager Sarah Rogers says: "Our message to any Curo residents who are finding it hard to make ends meet is: please get in touch with us. We will listen and we will help.

"Please never resort to a loan shark. Talk to us first."

In December and over the Christmas period Curo issued around £3,000 in fuel vouchers, provided 50 foodbank parcels (many delivered personally by Curo colleagues), and we delivered Christmas gift packs with the Salvation Army to some of our customers in Bristol with young children.

"A big thanks to the local foodbanks who also supplied phone top-up cards as well as vouchers to help customers buy presents for children," adds Sarah. "And thanks to the Salvation Army for their Christmas gift- and food-packs."

Pictured above, L-R: Dawn Sellers from the Salvation Army and Curo Accounts Manager Dawn Woods organising their Christmas deliveries.

Stop loan sharks

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 15:45:32 Z

Before and after Christmas is a prime time for loan sharks. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Borrowing from these lenders can make matters worse.

A loan shark is someone who lends money illegally without the correct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Loan sharks normally appear friendly at first, but this behaviour soon changes once money is owed.

Never borrow money from someone if you:

- Have been provided with no or very little paperwork on loans
- Have had debts randomly increase or have had additional amounts added to a loan unexpectedly
- Have personal items taken as security on a loan (passport, driving license, bank cards)
- Have been subject to intimidation and threats by the money lender

You can check if someone is authorised to lend money by searching for a company, person or postcode on the Financial Services Register.

To report a loan shark visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk.

Read about one families experience with loan sharks here.

If you are worried about money please contact our Customer Accounts Team.

There are many thing we can to do help if you're struggling. Call 01225 366 000 and talk to our friendly team or email customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk.

Request money advice 24/7 via MyCuro

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 14:38:48 Z

Are you worried about paying your rent or other bills and in financial difficulty? Would you like help with debt, budgeting, income maximisation, benefit assessments and more? You can now send an enquiry 24/7 via MyCuro, and it will go directly to Curo’s in-house money advisor.

Just log in to MyCuro, head to the money page, type in your concerns, select how you would like us to contact you and hit submit. We will be back in touch with you within three working days.

If you have any other rent account queries then please get in touch with us via customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk or call us on 01225 366000. We are here to help.

Find out more about MyCuro here.

Our commitment to support our residents

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:00:00 Z

At Curo we want to assure all our residents that we will always support you and work with you to keep you in your home wherever possible.

We support the following statement issued by the National Housing Federation which represents housing associations across the country, including Curo:

Housing associations are not-for-profit landlords to more than six million people in England. Any resident worried about paying their rent should contact their housing association, who will help.

Housing associations are committed to:

1. Keeping people secure at home
No one will be evicted from a housing association home as a result of financial hardship, where they are working (or engaging) with their housing association to get their payments back on track.

2. Helping people to get the support they need
Housing associations are helping residents to access benefits and other support to alleviate financial hardship, including supporting people to get work where possible.

3. Acting compassionately and quickly where people are struggling
Housing associations will work with any resident who is struggling to find arrangements to pay rent that is manageable for them in the long term. Legal action will only be taken in serious circumstances – for example as a last resort where a resident will not agree a plan with their landlord to help them pay their rent, or where it is needed urgently in cases of domestic abuse or of antisocial behaviour that is putting other residents or communities at risk.

These commitments stand during the coronavirus crisis, and beyond.

Please get in touch if you're finding it hard to pay your rent - we will do all we can to help.

Low income? You could get help with you Council Tax bill

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 15:43:38 Z

If you’re on a low income or claim benefits, you could be eligible for help with your Council Tax bill. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%.

You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

What you could be eligible for depends on:

Where you live - each council runs its own scheme
Your circumstances (eg income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
Your household income - this includes savings, pensions and your partner’s income
If your children live with you
If other adults live with you

To find out more click here.

Curo’s Customer Accounts team are here to help. Call us on 01225 366000 or email customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk if you’re struggling to make ends meet. The team are very experienced in all things money and benefits. What have you got to lose?

Getting a pension, but missing out on something?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 16:51:23 Z

Up-to-date numbers show that 1.9 million pensioners are living in poverty, mostly because they are not claiming benefits they would be entitled to.

Almost one million pensioner households are entitled to Pension Credit and 200,000 households are missing out on Housing Benefit which goes towards paying rent. We know that many benefits go unclaimed each year amounting to billions of pounds.

People over 65 will sometimes not claim benefits because they do not understand the benefits system so don’t know where to start. Some people feel uncomfortable with claiming state support or may worry about giving out their personal financial information.

Here at Curo we have a dedicated team who can help and support customers to check what benefits they might be entitled to. It’s quick and easy and everything you tell us is confidential. Please don’t suffer in silence, if you are entitled to benefits, it’s your right to claim. The extra money could help with rent, Council Tax, heating and food to make things more comfortable for you.

Please contact Curo's Customer Accounts team for more information; what have you got to lose!

Passport to independence

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:13:55 Z

Our Passport to Housing service is a free and confidential service offered by Curo to help people bidding for homes through Bath & North East Somerset's Homesearch scheme to prepare for a successful Curo tenancy and plan for the expense of moving home. Read about one resident's recent experience with Passport to Housing here:

South Gloucestershire Council referred me to Curo’s Passport to Housing to get help preparing for my own tenancy whilst I was living in temporary accommodation. I suffer with depression and anxiety, and I felt very overwhelmed when I started working with Ali. She called me to explain the service and I felt able to tell her my story; to share with her the series of traumatic life events that had resulted in me losing my home, and my employment, and how this had impacted my mental health.

We worked at my pace, identifying all my debts and we agreed a plan together. She supported me with setting up a debt management plan with Stepchange and encouraged me to make calls to those creditors I felt able to, setting up joint calls to those creditors that I felt I needed help to speak to. This helped me to feel more confident in making decisions myself.

I was on Universal Credit but did not have any additional financial support, as I was not well enough to work. Ali helped me to contact my doctor to get a fit note and led to me getting some extra money in my Universal Credit, because I am unwell.

She spoke to me about applying for Personal Independence Payment and explained how to do this, helping to write the application form with me. The claim was successful, and I received a backdate payment to the date that I ordered the form. I was absolutely delighted as this helped me to tackle some of my debts.

She worked closely with my mental health support worker so that I felt that they were both helping me to move forward to my goal of having my own home.

When I was allocated a property, she spoke to the housing association about my financial and personal circumstances, forwarding evidence to support my application, so that I didn’t have to keep repeating all the things that had happened to me in my life. Also, when I was told I had a flat, she applied for grants to help me set up a home, as I had nothing. She helped me to get a bed, some furniture and some kitchen items including a fridge.

She kept in contact with me regularly and even after I moved, she helped me to get a cooker, which I had not been able to afford. I have found Passport to Housing so helpful.

Call us on 01225 366000 or email hello@curo-group.co.uk if you think Passport to Housing might work for you.

Keeping your home warm and cosy this winter

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:19:08 Z

Stay warm and keep condensation at bay with these simple tips from our repairs colleagues:

If your radiators have cold spots they might need bleeding. All you need is a radiator key and an old rag. Gas engineer Luke shows you what to do.
If your boiler's on the blink, it could just need repressurising. Here's how to check and what to do to get the heat back on.
Night storage heaters? Take a couple of minutes to get to know the controls so you'll get the heat you want when you need it. Electrical engineer Mark gives you a quick tour of the dials.
Any property can get condensation in winter as we seal up our homes. Multi-trader Rob shows you how to reduce condensation and what to do if it becomes a problem.

We've got more tips for staying warm and saving money on fuel bills here.

Is your benefits cap 'grace period' ending?

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:40:19 Z

At Curo we're very aware of the financial difficultly customers can be put in if affected by the Government's benefit cap. If you’re claiming Universal Credit because you stopped working or your earnings went down you may have been exempted from the benefits cap. This exemption lasts nine months, and the Government has confirmed that they will not be extending this nine-month 'grace period'.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that around 340,000 families will become subject to the benefit cap between December 2020 and March 2021 because of the grace period ending.

If you're now facing a benefits cap, our message to you is: please contact us and speak with our Customer Accounts Team if you need help and support.

We will listen, discuss with you your options, and we may be able to approach your local authority for financial assistance in the form of a Discretionary Housing Payment. We would need to complete an income and expenditure review with you and the local authority would need to see bank statements to support this.

Please don’t suffer in silence, pick up the phone or email us at customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk

We are here to help.

EU citizens: Protect your rights; apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:33:39 Z

If you are an EU citizen, resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, you and your family members (including non-EU citizens) need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue to live, work and study in the UK beyond 30 June 2021.

Even if you have lived in the UK for many years or you have a permanent residence document, you still need to apply. Only settled status confers the right to claim benefits.

You do not need to apply if you have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or you are an Irish citizen, but you can if you want to.

The online application checks your identity and UK residence, and asks you to declare any criminal convictions. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2021.

Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and find out more here.

Opening a bank account? Help is here

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:24:07 Z

Opening a high street bank account can be a stressful process but we're here to help.

Opening an account

Firstly, you should always shop around and find the best account that suits you; it could save you money. You commonly have to apply for the account first, giving some details like the following:

1. Personal details including your full name, nationality, contact details, date of birth, and National Insurance number.

2. Proof of your address: you can use a recent utility bill, rent statement or tenancy agreement, a bank statement or a Council Tax bill. You may also be asked to show how long you’ve lived there.

3. Proof of identity: you can use your passport or driving licence. If you don’t have these documents speak to the bank to see what alternatives they accept. Some banks may take birth certificates as proof for a child’s or student’s account.

Banks can choose to run a credit check, depending on the type of bank account you would like to open, to view your financial history. There are banks that allow accounts for customers with poor credit history so don’t be put off.

If your application is accepted, the bank will notify you, you will be sent a debit card and personal pin number in the post. This information will normally be delivered in separate envelopes for security reasons. Please read the information carefully as you may need to activate your card online or by phone before you can use it. Some banks will open an account in person with you by visiting the branch, or you can do it via phone or online, all details above will need to be provided.

Up and running

Once your account is set up you can choose to do online banking, this will give you access to your account 24/7 and will really help you manage your finances. Some banks are happy to set up a text messaging service to warn you if you are getting close to going overdrawn.

Overdrafts

Please be mindful of your account and the money you have going in and out. Do not go overdrawn unless you have an overdraft arrangement with your bank. If you do go overdrawn without an arrangement you will receive bank charges and these can quickly mount up.

Reclaiming bank charges

You should contact you bank and explain your situation. Tell them if it’s the case, that the charges will impact your financial security or ask for the charges to be written off. It will be the bank's decision but you need to ask the question. If your request is declined and you feel strongly about the matter advise your bank that you will take the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service to further your complaint.

Closing a bank account

Closing a bank account should be a straightforward process. Contact your bank and tell them you want to close the account. It’s unlikely you’ll be charged, but if there’s an outstanding overdraft you’ll have to pay it off before the account is closed. This will not prevent you from opening another bank account. If you do have money owing talk to your bank, discuss a payment plan to avoid bank charges, ask for the overdraft to be written off, and remember to cancel any Direct Debits or standing orders you have set up to avoid payments being rejected which will cause further bank charges.

In the event that your bank closes your account down without your request, they should give you three months’ notice for current or instant access savings accounts.

Curo's Customer Accounts are here to help or alternatively find out more by clicking here.

Rent worries? Help is here!

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 11:47:32 Z

Here at Curo we know and understand that some of our customers are having difficulty paying their rent in theses uncertain times.

Our message to you is, we're here to help. Please don’t put off getting in touch - pick up the phone or email us at customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk with your query.

We've already helped hundreds of our customers in the following ways:

Help with benefit applications to maximise income
Help if you've been made redundant or furloughed
If you've had a change of circumstances that's impacted your income, we can discuss ways to pay that best suit you
Making agreements for future payments with instalments that are affordable
Help and support with utility bills like gas, electricity and water
Getting charity and grant applications
Money advice from our in-house money advisor
Offering 'breathing space' - that means putting a pause on payments towards any arrears as long as the ongoing rent is paid. During the pause we can talk to you about your finances and offer you tailored solutions
Need to downsize to a smaller property? If you live in Bath & North East Somerset our Passport to Housing service could help

Picking up the phone to ask for help is the first step and can be the hardest. We promise you that it will be the best step you take.

Our Customer Accounts team will welcome your call: you'll be listened to, we'll offer solutions and perhaps sign-post you to other support agencies.

Our team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. With a non-judgmental approach, we understand people are suffering with financial difficulties and can offer ways to help.

If you need any of the above help or support please call us, Monday to Friday. We look forward to your call.

Click here to contact us.

Visit our rent and money web page for more help and advice.

TV licence fee for over-75s: 1.3m could be missing out on this exemption

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:59:33 Z

As of 1 August 2020 free TV licences are only available for over-75s who receive Pension Credit. It's estimated 1.3 million eligible households don't claim this benefit. Are you or an older relative missing out?

The BBC says about 1.5 million over-75s will be able to claim for the free licence, however up to 3.7 million people who were eligible for a free licence may now have to pay.

A standard TV licence currently costs £154.50 a year – you need one to watch or record programmes as they're being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, and to download or watch BBC programmes on the BBC iPlayer.

Check if you're eligible for Pension Credit here to avoid the new charge.