Tenancy sustainment

Some examples of how we might be able to help are:

• • understanding and explaining your benefit entitlement

• • finding ways to manage your money and develop your budgeting skills

• • explaining housing options available if you’re affected by the Benefit Cap or Bedroom Tax.

• • getting help from local services, like your local food bank and welfare advice centres

• • helping you to look after your health, such as registering with a GP or dentist

Our Tenancy Sustainment Officers will look at what sort of help you need and how we might be able to help. We’ll arrange a meeting with you to talk through the issues that have been raised. We may contact other family members or people involved in your care, with your permission.

Together with you, we’ll then draw up an action plan for how we can help, what other agencies might need to be involved, and what changes you might need to make.

If we can’t help you, we’ll tell you why and refer you to other support services.

Step 1 – we get your referral from your Housing Officer or Rental Income Officer.

Step 2 – we will visit you in your home. We might contact other people involved in your care with your permission.

Step 3 – we will work with you to create a personalised action plan or refer you to specialised services.

Whilst you are waiting for a referral or response, please read through our Frequently Asked Questions (below) to find further support.

Our Tenancy Sustainment Officer will work with you in the short term. We’ll regularly review the action plan with you, to make sure you’re making progress towards your personalised goals.

When your support comes to an end, we’ll give you information about other services that could help you in the long term.

We cannot help you with:

• • personal care

• • handling your money

• • counselling

• • medication

• • mental health services (though we can offer referral assistance)

• • debt arragnements.

Again, our service is here to support you to manage your tenancy. It’s not supposed to replace Social Services, the NHS or any other council/statutory service

How can I check what I am entitled to for myself?

The government-approved website Entitledto can help you to find this information. Here are some other helpful links:

Need help filling in forms?

See these helpful links, or get in touch.

• • Universal Credit https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

• • Carers Allowance https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

• • PIP https://www.gov.uk/pip

• • DLA for children https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

• • Attendance Allowance https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

• • Pension Credit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

Want to move home?

First, register with your district council’s bidding system (links below). See our Move or Swap home page for more information.

• • South Oxfordshire HomeChoice registration

• • Vale and White Horse HomeChoice registration

• • Oxford City Council HomeChoice registration

• • Cherwell District Council HomeChoice registration

• • West Oxfordshire District Homeseeker Plus registration

• • Swindon Borough Council registration

• • Wiltshire Borough Council registration

• • Buckinghamshire Council Bucks Home Choice registration

• • Apply for housing – Cotswold District Council

I would like specific advice/help

• • Citizens Advice

• • StepChange Debt Charity

• • Christians Against Poverty UK

• • Turning Point

• • AgeUK

• • Mind

• • Connection Floating Support (only applicable for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire residents)

• • Hoarding support – Hoarding UK | Promoting Choice & Control since 2008

• • Hoarding support – Helping someone who is hoarding – Mind

• • Anyone can refer themselves to APDO – Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers | APDO

Limited internet/telephone access?

In our Didcot office, we have access to internet and phone. Please do visit us and speak to our friendly Reception staff if you need help.

• • Vale of White Horse

• • South Oxfordshire District Council

• • Oxford City Council

• • Swindon Borough Council

• • Wiltshire Borough Council

• • Cherwell District Council

• • Buckinghamshire Council

• • West Oxfordshire Council

• • West Berkshire Council

• • Cotswold District Council

 

Each local council gets an annual pot of money to help people who claim housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who need extra, short-term help to pay their rent. The council decides who gets these payments but once the yearly pot is used up, the council can’t make any more payments.

If you don’t know which council area you live in, click here: Find your local council – GOV.UK

• • South Oxfordshire District Council

• • Vale of White Horse District Council

• • Oxford City Council

• • Cherwell District Council

• • West Oxfordshire District Council

• • Swindon Borough Council

• • Wiltshire Council

• • Buckinghamshire Council

• • West Berkshire Council

• • Cotswold District Council

The Tenancy Sustainment team also has occasional access to other funds.

Contact your local Citizens Advice service (free, independent and confidential advice) or call them on 03444 111 444.