Housing tenants are being given financial advice to help them with
welfare benefit changes.

Barclays is working with Golding Homes, the Maidstone-based non-profit
making management company of more than 6,000 homes, to provide a
series of financial advice sessions. It helps them with budgeting tips
and opening a bank account.

The next phase of Government changes to the welfare benefit system -
Universal Credit - begins to come into effect from October onwards.
Universal credit will merge several benefits and tax credits into one
monthly payment.

This change means that only one claim will need to be
submitted and only one payment will be made. The payment will be in
arrears directly into the claimant’s bank account. Therefore it is
important that they have a bank account and are able to budget for the
month.

Jillie Smithies, Golding Homes’ director of operations, said: “These
free workshops will provide our residents with specialist advice to
help them manage their money during the welfare benefit changes.”

Jenny Wells, Barclays To You Relationship Manager added: “Barclays
will also be supporting the Golding Homes community through Barclays
Money Skills sessions, which help people with their financial
education.”

Sessions between 10am and 2pm are being held at The Gateway,
King Street, Maidstone on Tuesday, May 14; Fusion Café in Park Wood on Thursday, May 16; the Teenage Parent Unit, Willowbrook Place, Tovil on Wednesday, May 22 and Shepway Resource Centre on Thursday, May 23.