Social landlord helps 1,100 residents access more than £2.8 million

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Around 1,100 Wheatley Homes South tenants across Dumfries and Galloway have been helped by the social housing provider to access more than £2.8 million in unclaimed welfare benefits in 12 months.

Across the Wheatley Group in Scotland, the welfare benefits team helped 8,652 customers claim almost £18.5 million in unclaimed benefits, including accessing Universal Credit, during the past 12 months.

Among those delighted with the extra service offered to those living in its 10,350 homes across the region is Shaun Fergusson from Kelloholm in Dumfriesshire.

He is one of the tenants to receive support from Wheatley’s benefits advisors and was given help to apply for the carer element of Universal Credit and Discretionary Housing Payment for their spare bedroom.

Shaun said: “The help we received from Wheatley was brilliant. My advisor Fiona was incredibly knowledgeable. She helped us through the process of applying and we heard back from our claim in a couple of weeks. The extra income will be a great help towards our bills.

“I knew nothing about these benefits. I would encourage tenants of Wheatley Homes South to speak to the advisors. If you don’t ask then you don’t know what you could be eligible for.”

Alex Lamb, managing director of Wheatley Homes South, said: “We’re doing all we can to support our tenants in these difficult times.

Welfare benefits are incredibly important to people on low incomes, and we want to help tenants claim what they are entitled to.

“The service is available to all of our tenants, and I would encourage any Wheatley tenant who is struggling to contact us.”

Tenants of Wheatley Homes South who want to book an appointment with a welfare benefits advisor should speak to their housing officer by calling 0800 011 3447.

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