Lewisham Homes is keen to support our residents in these unprecedented and difficult times as a result of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. If you are affected and worried about paying your rent please contact our income team to discuss.
If you’re on benefits already and your income has stopped or dropped:
Housing benefit – Residents with an existing housing benefit claim must report their change of circumstances straight away here
Please note: new claims for housing benefit cannot be made unless you are reaching the age of retirement or you are classified as severely disabled and receiving the higher rate of employment and support allowance.
Please check with the Welfare Benefits Team if you are unsure whether or not you should be claiming Housing Benefit. The Welfare Benefits Team can guide you to make sure you make the right choice. Contact the team on 0800 028 2 028 or send an email to the team.
Universal Credit – Report changes using your Universal Credit online account or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you are NOT on benefits already and your income has stopped or dropped:
If you’re struggling financially you may be eligible to apply for these two benefits:
Universal Credit: Click here to start your benefit claim
The Money Advice Service has help and advice available specifically for those needing to claim Universal Credit on its website. Also, Policy in Practice have helpful guides on their website.
Council Tax: Lewisham Council has a council tax reduction scheme which can be accessed online. This can assist in covering the cost of your council tax bills if your ability to pay is impacted by loss of income. Visit the website here.
Self-employed: If you are self-employed and your income has been affected by the Corona Virus, you may qualify for a business support grant through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. This taxable grant will be based on your last 3 years profit (or less if your self-employment is less than 3 years) and will be worth 80% of your average profit up to a limit of £2500/month. More information can be found here Coronavirus (COVID-19): Business support – GOV.UK
You should also make a claim for universal credit immediately.
If you need help or advice relating to benefits or your finances please contact our welfare benefits team which has specialist advisors ready to assist.
Contact the welfare benefits team:
0800 028 2 028 or by email to book a phone appointment with an advisor.
Our daily welfare benefit surgeries at the Old Town Hall are temporarily suspended during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak
Worried about losing your home?
If you’re worried about losing your home please speak to our income team who can talk to you about creating a plan to pay your rent and clear any arrears. No tenant will be evicted for not paying their rent due to Covid-19.
Contact the Income team:
0800 028 2 028, by email or by text to 07535 412 412.
If you are in severe financial hardship and need emergency assistance please contact our welfare benefits team or visit Lewisham Council’s website where there are details of a range of support agencies
What can we do to help you pay your rent?
We have a specialist team of welfare benefits advisors who can provide free help and advice with:
- Claiming the right benefits and understanding changes to your benefits
- Applying for a non-repayable grant like the Local Support Scheme Grant
- Managing and prioritising debt
- Budgeting and saving money on your energy bills
- Working out a payment plan that you can stick to (You can submit a budget form online)
- Putting you in touch with other organisations that can help
Our advisors can provide you with a personal benefit check over the phone, which takes roughly 10 minutes.
Contact the Welfare Benefits team:
0800 028 2 028
By email or use the online booking system to book an appointment to see a Welfare Benefits Advisor.
Are you over 60?
Our Welfare Benefits team can help you with:
- Pension checks
- Single person’s council tax
- Warm homes discount
- Cold weather payments
- Thames Water Sure discount
- Attendance allowance
- Winter fuel payments
- Support agencies in the borough
Get in touch on the contact details above to find out how we could help you.
The Welfare Benefits helped residents claim over £500,000 in entitled benefits.
“I spoke with a tenant at a recent Welfare Benefits Surgery as they were struggling to pay their rent. It became clear that Housing Benefit was charging them incorrectly, so I wrote to them highlighting the error. We successfully got the tenant £2,300 in backdated Housing Benefit, and he’s now in credit. Not only that, I also helped him find a job and he’s now in full time employment.”
“One resident had large rent arrears due to issues with her benefits payment. As a young single parent, this was causing her distress and she took out a high interest loan. The resident was referred to our Welfare Benefits Team, and we helped get her housing benefit backdated. Her arrears were cleared in full, removing the threat of eviction, and she’s now receiving all the right benefits.”