Thenue Housing unlocks £1m in benefits for tenants

Tenants have received a million-pound boost after housing staff helped them unlock access to benefits. Over £1 million pounds has been obtained for tenants of Thenue Housing in just one year, thanks to the efforts of the housing association.

Thenue’s Financial Inclusion Team has revealed the extent of its efforts to help tenants claim benefits to which they are entitled to.

The amount was obtained for tenants by Thenue, much of it in state benefits, between April 2021 and 31 March this year.

Thenue Chief Executive Gary Naylor has praised the efforts of staff and said they had “made an amazing effort” to offer a much-needed helping hand.

It is often the case that people don’t know they are eligible for certain benefits, because they were unaware, they could claim.

Gary Naylor said: “This remarkable figure reflects the sheer effort of our staff to help people at a time of unprecedented need. Some of this period covers the turbulent months of the ongoing pandemic as it continued to have a devastating effect on so many lives.

“We are immensely grateful for their skill, enthusiasm and hard work in delivering this massive level of help for our customers, proving that it really does pay to get good advice.”

The role played by the Financial Inclusion Team was thrown into focus because of the health emergency which prompted more people to seek out the free and confidential service from Thenue.

It is anticipated that the service will attract increasing calls for help with soaring energy bills putting a further squeeze on already-stretched incomes, with bills are expected to rocket further in the autumn. 

Examples of help offered include energy advice, encouraging tenants to switch to cheaper tariffs, assistance on making claims for benefits, which many were unaware they were entitled to, plus general help on welfare rights.

Mr Naylor added: “It is yet another example of the work housing associations and housing co-operatives do which support communities and go far beyond simply collecting the rent. We have grown deep roots in areas where our tenants live and never has there been a more important time for help of this kind.”