Financial Health
And Wellbeing Service
The Project
The Financial Health and Wellbeing Service provides an holistic service to address fuel poverty and is targeted at people who are experiencing health problems or who have a disability. The Project delivers services mainly in Northampton Borough, the Borough of Wellingborough, East Northamptonshire and South Northamptonshire with some flexibility to help residents in other areas as resources allow. Working directly with health professionals including GP surgeries, Community Mental Health Teams and other voluntary and statutory agencies who support local residents who have physical and mental health problems.
Services include:
- Welfare Benefit advice and Benefit and grant income maximisation
- Debt and Money advice
- Referrals for Warm Homes Discounts
- Referrals for Priority Services Register
- Energy efficiency advice
- Tariff checks and switching
- Emergency fuel Payments
- Support with Debt Relief Order fees
- Provision of energy saving devices
- Referrals for boiler replacement under ECO LA Flex
- Referrals for Home Energy Assessments
How to Access the Project Services
The Project is accessed primarily by referral from health related agencies. Referrals from agencies should be made through our website. See Make a Referral. Agencies can also refer by email or by telephone. People experiencing health problems or who have a disability may also self refer.
Tel: 01604 235709
Email: financialhealth@communitylawservice.org.uk
We provide appointments in person at all our offices and also appointments via telephone. Home visits are available where appropriate.
Funded by British Gas Energy Trust
In 2022 – 2023
1248
People were provided with holistic Fuel Poverty advice
£3,382,620
Additional Welfare Benefit and grant income was secured for households
£1,338,677
Debt was managed for households
16
Applications for Warm Home Discounts were supported
Case Study
Client’s circumstances
Mr & Mrs N are both in their 80’s and contacted CLS with regards to help as they couldn’t afford their energy bills and other expenses due to Mr N’s ill health. Mr N has multiple health problems and feels cold even in warm weather. The couple’s only source of income was pensions and Pension Credit. No savings. Their property was owned with no
outstanding mortgage.
Mr N’s health problems included Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and a heart condition. Medical equipment at the property included a hospital bed with pressure mattress and nebuliser so electric was vital and increased energy usage within the household.
Advice Provided:
A claim for Attendance Allowance(AA) was completed for Mr N. Following an overall benefit check, it was identified with a successful award of AA, Mrs N would qualify for underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance giving an increase in Pension Credit. Appropriate forms necessary would be completed once the AA award notified.
Due to Mr N’s health concerns and electric being vital to the property we Mr & Mrs N were referred for inclusion on the Priority Services Register. The couple already received the Warm Home Discount automatically as they were in receipt of Pension Credit.
A referral was made to Care & Repair for a Home Energy Assessment. Advice also provided information with regards to Volunteer Car Scheme and how to claim back travel expenses for hospital appointments as Mrs N advised that taxi fares were expensive.
Outcome achieved
Maximised income by £121.60 per week.
As a result of maximising income Mr & Mrs N was able to better afford their energy costs and other essentials. Through home energy assessment, small efficiency measures put in place giving energy savings of up £606.72 per annum.
Useful Links
British Gas EnergyTrust www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
National Energy Action (NEA) www.nea.org.uk
Auriga www.aurigaservices.co.uk
Care and Repair Northamptonshire www.careandrepairnorthamptonshire.org.uk
Our Services
Enquiries
For general enquires, please contact us on:
