Entries tagged with “benefits” from Working For Walthamstow

Following the coldest start to winter in thirty years, the Government has formally ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to pensioners, carers, disabled people and those in receipt of bereavement benefits. In total, 10,150 pensioners in Walthamstow should receive this money in addition to the regular £10 Christmas Bonus they get annually. The majority of State Pension customers should receive the £60 payment in January 2009 in addition to their pension. Payments will be made via an automatic payment so that no-one need have to worry about how and where they should claim. And importantly, this standalone payment will not affect recipient's entitlement to the income related benefits that they may already receive, and it is tax free lump sum.

Cold Weather Payments have also been increased from £8.50 to £25 per week for winter 2008/09. They are paid out when the average temperature where the recipient lives is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March. If you get the pensions credit, job seekers allowance, income support or the child tax credit you could be entitled to these payments. 

As a local school governor, I know our kids are talented and capable. But sometimes practical barriers prevent them achieving their potential. The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) supports learners from low income households to continue in learning. The scheme gives weekly payments of £ 10, £20 or £30 - depending on family income. No other household benefits are affected and young people can also still have a part-time job and claim. Those receiving EMA must sign a contract with their school or college - and payments are linked to attendance and behaviour. Across the UK half a million children received it in the last year - 3,085 in Waltham Forest alone.  

 

A recent independent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies shows EMAs have encouraged thousands of young people to stay on in education, who would not have done so without the financial support and incentive. There's now even better news as, from 2008/09, a learner will be eligible for EMA at the same amount for a period of up to three years. This "EMA Guarantee" will be a minimum level of support even if their household income changes and represents a security in funding which will allow them to look ahead to completing their programme of study and progressing into employment or Higher Education.

 

More information about how to claim EMA can be found by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/ema or calling the hotline on 0800 121 8989.

Having a safe and secure place you can call home is vital part of wellbeing. If the last ten years of a Labour Government was shaped by the need to make the case for public service investment, I believe the next ten will be dominated by questions of quality of life and equality of life chances. For me housing is at the heart of these concerns. Whether the provision of more affordable and social housing, the impact it has on our economy and family income levels or the importance it has to sustainable development and regeneration, the cost of living is fundamental to creating a more socially just future for many people in Walthamstow and the UK. 

As a politician I don't believe you can simply wait for others to come up with solutions to these issues; you have to be capable of problem solving yourself if you're to be effective.  My experience of working locally tells me still too many people  find themselves caught in the quirks of our system which put their tenancies and homes at risk so I've been exploring options to address these issues. On the campaigns pages here you'll find out details of the work I'm doing on the difficulties caused by being housed out of borough with the Citizens Advice Bureau. I'm also a supporter of the Foyer Federation's work challenging the 16 hour rule which affects many vulnerable young people. Yesterday my discussions with a local resident raised another issue. Anyone who goes on a training course finds their housing benefit automatically ends at the end of the course meaning a new claim has to be made which can take weeks to process. This can lead to rent arrears and so acts as a massive disincentive to gain training or skills yet we know that these can be critical to securing employment. I'll be meeting with Shelter soon to discuss these problems and more - if you have other examples or issues you think are relevant get in touch, I'd be interested to hear about them.