05 Feb 2025

Money issues following Christmas are common for most people and we can often find it difficult to get back on track financially in the new year.

Our tenants working in retail and hospitality may have been offered additional shifts at work. This can bare significant changes to those claiming benefit top ups, albeit better off, and these changes can throw us off money management-wise.

Those on fixed incomes, such as long term sick and in retirement, will surely have felt the pinch with increased costs associated with energy, services and goods.

At Choice we are ready to support all our tenants through what will be a challenging few months in 2025. Our Financial Inclusion Team are on hand and available to speak to you should you have any questions or feel you would like practical advice about money issues. Personal finances can be a challenge to confront, but our dedicated team are always sensitive and discrete & our service to tenants is 100% confidential. The Financial Inclusion Team have been able to use their combined experience over many years, responding quickly and creatively to tenants’ concerns.

The team are delivering value for money for both the organisation and tenants alike. In the last year the team helped tenants access £6 million in financial gains, such as:

  • Benefit maximisation and help applying for financial uplifts
  • Benefit entitlements checks and assistance to increase this were possible
  • Securing grants to help set up home
  • Support for tenants in arrears by establishing sustainable repayment plans based on the tenants personal budget
  • Applications to benevolent funds
  • Support with Universal Credit applications and maintenance of claims.
  • Help and support for anyone being migrated to Universal Credit and checks to ensure you are receiving all entitlements, including transitional protection.
  • Calculations and help with claims to make an application for Rates Rebate.

You can contact our Financial Inclusion Team on 0300 111 2211 or email enquiries@choice-housing.org 

We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls to our Services Centre. If you are reporting a non-emergency repair we would request that you phone back later in the week or you can report it via email to ServicesCentre@choice-housing.org. We apologise for any inconvenience.