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Family centre in the West offers welfare advice to cope in these tough times
It’s a huge challenge: balancing family life and finances can seem overwhelming, and changes to the benefit system are confusing and frightening,
but help is available at West Swindon Family Centre, 15 Gainsborough Way, Freshbrook.
Many people claim some form of benefit, about 53 per cent of the population. Benefit payments account for 30 per cent of Government expenditure;
60 per cent in pensions, 40 per cent in welfare. Nearly 6 million people in work are affected by the recent vote in Parliament to limit the uprating of
benefits to 1 per cent. Most people will be either directly affected by welfare reform or are related to someone who is.
So what is going to happen to you home. Housing charity Shelter re- Council currently pays £13 million in will have to pay something towards
asks welfare advice specialists Chris- ported on 4 January that 1.4 million Council Tax Benefit, which is later re- the council tax bill.
tian Sweeney, below, and Richard Britons are falling behind with rent imbursed in full by the Government. If you would like free help and
Stacey, bottom. They explain some or mortgage payments, with over 1 However, the amount available advice about benefits, debt, employ-
of the detail of the profound changes million people using payday loans from the borough’s fund in the next ment, housing, tax credits, DLA or
in the welfare system during 2013. to pay these costs. They also report financial year will be approximately family law or have any concerns about
Child Benefit has been stealing that 2.8 million people use an unau- £11 million, leaving a shortfall of £2 the changes, contact West Swindon
the headlines. Where one member thorised overdraft to pay their rent million. It is envisaged that everyone Family Centre. See details below left.
of a couple with chil- or mortgage, with 10
dren earns more than per cent doing so each
£50,000 the Child month.
Benefit starts to reduce. Aligned with this
If they earned more reform is the empty
than £60,000 in the last bedroom tax, which
tax year they will repay comes into force in Exclusive Skin Care Treatments for Ladies & Gentlemen
the Child Benefit via April 2013. This is
their tax bill. targeted solely at ten- •Specialist in Dermalogica Skin Treatments
Government has ants of social landlords. •Advanced Back Massage using Dermalogica oils
predicated the calcu- If you are considered •Sports Therapy or Relaxation Massage
lation of earnings on to under occupy your •Waxing and other Beauty Treatments
one partner’s pay cheque rather than home, your Housing Benefit will be •Manicures and Pedicures- using latest gel style polishes 20%-40% off RRP
the total household income. As a reduced. If you are considered to have •Spray Tanning and Hot Stone Massages
consequence we have a reform that one bedroom too many, the reduction •Dermalogica Gift Vouchers available
allows a couple to earn £98,000 per is 14 per cent; with two or more bed- •Free Face Mapping skin analysis
year each yet retain the benefit. How- rooms, the reduction is 25 per cent. Abbey Beauty, The Cutting Bar, Aiken Road, Taw Hill Village Centre, Swindon SN25 1UH
ever a couple where one person earns From April, Disability Living 07745 796514 www.abbeybeauty.co.uk or email [email protected]
in excess £50,000 are not so lucky. Allowance (DLA) for adults under Tues- Fri 1pm -7pm Sat 10am-3pm
The benefit cap starts in London retirement age will be phased out.
in April and will be rolled out across Personal Independence Payment 2013 Coach Holiday Brochure is
the country from the summer. Total (PIP)will take its place, introduced
income from benefits first in Bootle and out with free home pickup!
will be capped at £500 rolled out nation-
per week for a couple ally over the summer.
or lone parent, and Existing claimants of
£350 for single adult DLA will be selected
households. for PIP assessment
Housing Benefit from October 2013.
will be reduced by Universal Credit
the difference. This is the great vision
simple pay cut will be for simplifying the
a near catastrophic benefits system - to
threat to the family replace income based
JobSeekers Allow-
If the changes in ance, Income Support, income based
welfare system affect Employment Support Allowance,
you, advice is available Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit
and Working Tax Credit.
Richard Stacey and Christian Swee- It is to begin in the North West in
ney offer free welfare advice to April. In October all new claims for
families with children aged 0 to19 out-of-work support will be under
years who live in West Swindon. Universal Credit.
Appointments can be booked The transfer will then begin for
from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and existing claimants, to be completed
Richard or Christian are available to by April 2014. At this time no new
discuss welfare issues on a drop-in Tax Credit claims will be accepted
basis every Wednesday from 9.15am and the transfer process is likely to
to 10.15am and 2.15pm to 2.45pm. continue until 2017.
To book an appointment call Council Tax Benefit is being abol-
01793 871303 or mail: advice@ ished altogether, to be replaced by a
westswindoncc.org local authority run benefit. Swindon 01793 821303 www.barnescoaches.co.uk
swindonlink.com • February 2013 11

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