Inspired Livingmaking your area a great place to live JANUARY 2013

Families across the Oldham PFI area enjoyed festive parties recently, with lots of fun along the way.

Local children were entertained by face painters, balloon modellers, games, as well as plenty of festive food to get their teeth into.

All parties ended with a visit from a very special guest... Father Christmas and his elves.

A big thank you to everyone that helped to make all the parties a success.

FUN FUN FUN at Oldham festive parties

It’s all smiles in Oldham as the first five families recently moved into their new homes on Dew Way.

All residents were also invited to a ‘meet and greet’ event, held at the OBA Millennium Centre, where they had the chance to meet their new neighbours, as well as staff from Great Places, Wates Living Space and Oldham Council.

We hope that everyone is now settling into their new lives in Oldham.

For more information, stay tuned to Inspired Living to find out what activities are going on in the community, or get in touch with Great Places on 0300 123 2003.

First residents move into new homes

DON’T LET BENEFIT CHANGES TAKE YOU BY SURPRISETHE CLOCK IS TICKING!

You’ll have been bombarded with information on the Welfare Reform Act lately but it’s really important that

you read and listen to everything because the changes the government is making in April will affect many of you on benefits. Inspired Living talks you through them.

What is the bedroom tax?The bedroom tax is a government initiative, and not something introduced by Great Places. The change means that housing benefit will be cut if you’re seen to have more bedrooms than you need. For example, if you’re a single tenant living in a four-bedroom house, you may currently be getting your full rent paid by housing benefit – but as of next April, this will no longer be the case.Even if you use every bedroom in the house, you may still be classed as under-occupying. In many cases, brothers and sisters will be expected to share.

Who makes the decisions?Your council’s housing benefit department will make the decision.

Who will it affect?Everyone of working age on full or partial housing benefit. Disabled people and those who foster are not exempt.If you have reached pension credit age, you won’t be affected. This is going up every year, but in April 2013 it will be anyone over 61 years and six months. People with fair rent tenancies and those in shared ownership properties will not be affected.

• If you have two children under 10, you’ll be assessed as only needing one bedroom for them.

• The same assessment will be made if you have two children of the same sex under 16.

• You’ll need to pay 14% of the total rent if you have one spare bedroom – for example, if your weekly rent is £85 you’d have to pay £11.90 extra a week.

• You’ll need to pay 25% of the total rent if you have two spare bedrooms, so based on that same weekly figure of £85, you’d have to pay £21.25 extra a week.

• You’re allowed one spare room for an overnight carer, but they can’t be a family member.

• Students in temporary accommodation can still have a bedroom if your home is their permanent residence.

• Only the parent who claims child benefit for the child can claim their bedroom entitlement.

THE CHANGES IN A NUTSHELL

Look out for our Bedroom Tax newsletter. All those affected will receive a questionnaire asking how they intend to pay their rent and whether they want to move to a smaller property. Please help us by filling it in! If we don’t contact you, and you think you will be affected, please ring us on 0300 123 2003 or email oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk

“Downsizing was a quick and painless process for us. It only took about 10 weeks from start to finish... and it saved us a fortune!”

DON’T LET BENEFIT CHANGES TAKE YOU BY SURPRISETHE CLOCK IS TICKING! WHAT WILL YOUR BENEFITS COVER?

1x

1x

2x

2x

2x

3x

SINGLE ADULT OVER THE AGE OF 16: ONE BEDROOM

ADULT COUPLE: ONE BEDROOM

PARENT(S) WITH SINGLE CHILD: TWO BEDROOMS

PARENT(S) WITH TWO CHILDREN OF SAME SEX UNDER 16: TWO BEDROOMS

PARENT(S) WITH TWO CHILDREN OF EACH SEX UNDER 10: TWO BEDROOMS

PARENT(S) WITH TWO CHILDREN OF EACH SEX AGED 10-16: THREE BEDROOMS

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SAVE MONEY? If you do have to pay the bedroom tax, we have lots of ideas on how you can make savings elsewhere to cover the costs. Here are just a few of them...• It may be possible to take in a

lodger, but you must ask Great Places for permission first, and any income from a lodger may affect benefits.

• If you borrow from a credit union, you could save around £4-£5 per week on a £500 loan. Visit www.abcul.org.uk to find your nearest credit union

• You can switch your energy

supplier(s), which can save you on average £4 per week.

• Budget properly – just thinking about what you spend your cash on and writing it down can save a lot.

• Great Places has a good value home contents insurance scheme which covers all the items in your house and is a lot cheaper than insuring items individually.

Great Places has a team who can help you to make the most of your money – call 0300 123 2003, email financialinclusionteam@greatplaces.org.uk, or call in to one of our drop-ins: Primrose Bank – last Monday of the month, 10am to 12pm, Crossley – last Tuesday of the month, 10am – 12pm.

OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW! The government is cutting council tax benefit. From April 2013, if you get all or any part of your council tax paid, and you are between 16 – 61 years of age, it’s likely that you’ll have to pay something towards your council tax. Each council will have different amounts, so you should check with

your local council tax department to find out how much you will have to pay. From April 2013 you will NOT be able to apply to the Job Centre for a Community Care Grant, Budgeting Loan, or Crisis Loan. Instead, you will have to apply to your local council for help. BUT your council will have less money and may only provide support for basic items.

The Stuart family have saved a lot of money on bills since they downsized

BEDROOM TAX&WELFARE REFORM

THE GOVERNMENT’S

HOW WILL YOU BE AFFECTED?

FOR INFORMATION & ADVICE CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER ACCESS TEAM 0300 123 1966 (option 3)

Mystery shopping meetingTuesday 15 January, 2pm. Venue to be confirmed.

Primrose Bank kerbside clean upWednesday 16 January from 9am to 1pm. Please use this opportunity to get rid of any bulky household items that you no longer need. Look out for the flyer with more information.

Primrose Bank estate forumMonday 21 January, 10.30am at the Primrose Bank Tenants Hall (please note new time).

Crossley estate forumThursday 24 January, 7pm at St

Saviour’s Church off Denton Lane.

Dew Way drop inMonday 28 January, 3pm at the site office.

Crossley estate walkaboutTuesday 29 January, meet outside Kent Avenue shops at 10am.

Crossley kerbside clean upWednesday 30 January from 9am to 1pm.

Primrose Bank estate walkaboutThursday 31 January, meet outside the Tenants Hall at 10am.

Bangla

Urdu

It’s easy to get in touch...

call 0300 123 2003text 07797 870 731oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk

8am to 6pmMon-Fri

What’s on!

ChaddertonSusan Deardensusan.dearden@oldham.gov.ukColin Mclaren - 0161 627 4197colin.mclaren@oldham.gov.ukEddie Moores - 07765 402 484cllr.e.moores@oldham.gov.uk

WernethShoab Akhtar - 0161 287 2005shoab.akhtar@oldham.gov.ukFida Hussain - 0161 626 5263fida.hussain@oldham.gov.ukJavid Iqbal - 0161 345 7637javid.iqbal@oldham.gov.uk

Medlock ValeKaiser Rehman - 0161 652 4444cllr.k.rehman@oldham.gov.ukYasmin Toor - 0161 770 4013yasmin.toor@oldham.gov.uk

Ateeque Ur-Rehmanateeque.urrehman@oldham.gov.uk

Police contact detailsOldham WestMike Quarmby - 0161 856 8927 michael.quarmby@gmp.policeor email oldhamwest.npt@gmp.police.uk

Chadderton PCSO Tony Bowker - 0161 856 8825 tony.bowker@gmp.police.ukor chadderton.npt@gmp.police.uk

For any non emergency please ring 101.

Your local councillor contact details

We offer many ways to pay your rent, but paying by direct debit is by far the easiest.

ONE LESS WORRY

It saves you timeModern life is hectic – but direct debits help. They take away much of the hassle of paying bills and put an end to queuing at the bank and filling out cheques. They make it easier for you stay on top of bills and you’ll know exactly how much money is going out each month.We use a company called Allpay who collect your rent payment on any working day of the month to fit around you. It’s guaranteedDirect debit payments come with a guarantee so they’re automatically protected by three important safeguards:• An immediate

money back guarantee in the event of an error

• Advance notice if the date or amount changes

• The right to cancel at any time

It gives peace of mindDirect debit is one of the safest and most reassuring ways of paying bills.• Payments

are made automatically so bills are never forgotten, lost in the post or delayed by postal problems, and there’s no risk of late payment charges

• Organisations using the direct debit scheme have to pass a careful vetting process, and are closely monitored by the banking industry

• The Direct Debit Guarantee protects you and your money

For more information, call our customer access team on 0300 123 2003