As the colder months draw near, many of your tenants will be met with a number of challenges due to the drop in temperatures and a rise in living costs. For housing associations like yours, making sure your communities are supported means not only keeping their homes warm, but also guiding them toward the financial help available to them.
We’ve created this handy winter checklist to offer practical advice on key areas where tenants may need assistance, and the various ways in which Voicescape’s solutions can empower you to better engage with and assist your communities during this critical period.
Winter fuel payment and pension-age tenants
The winter months bring added stress for pension-age tenants, especially in the face of rising energy costs. One of the key forms of support available to this age group is the Winter Fuel Payment. However, it’s important to note that eligibility for this payment has changed – to qualify for this allowance, tenants must now claim Pension Credit by 21st December 2024. Even a small amount of Guarantee Credit can unlock additional benefits such as cold weather payments, free prescriptions, and access to free TV licences for those over 75.
Taking the time to ensure that your pension-age tenants are aware of these deadlines and opportunities is essential. Nonetheless, we appreciate that accessing and engaging with this demographic – especially when they may face barriers including mobility issues, language challenges, or limited access to digital technology – isn’t always easy. This is where solutions like Voicescape Engage come into play, transforming costly, ineffective outbound calls into valuable welfare checks and other proactive campaigns.
EPC ratings and energy support
For tenants living in homes with low Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings, winter can be a particularly difficult time. These homes often require more energy to heat, leading to higher bills. In many cases, tenants living in these properties may be eligible for energy grants or income-maximisation services. Yet these opportunities frequently go unnoticed and, as a result, unclaimed.
By making it a priority to identify tenants in homes with low EPC ratings and guaranteeing they have access to support, either by directing them to grants or offering advice on unclaimed benefits, you can make a significant difference to their financial wellbeing over the winter months.
In addition, housing associations should be mindful of the legal and health implications of poor housing conditions. Damp, mould, and condensation (DMC) can worsen in the winter – leading to increased health risks for tenants. Following the implementation of Awaab’s Law, housing associations have a higher level of responsibility when it comes to addressing these issues quickly and preventing hazardous living conditions. Reaching out to tenants to ensure they’re living in safe, healthy environments isn’t just a legal requirement but a crucial aspect of tenant wellbeing.
Unclaimed benefits and financial support
Many tenants may be unaware of the benefits they’re eligible for, such as disability premiums, transactional protection from Universal Credit (UC) changes, and other underclaimed benefits. Without targeted engagement and outreach, tenants often miss out on these, depriving them of crucial support.
When you partner with Voicescape, our intelligent automation, machine learning, and behavioural science capabilities allow you to run highly targeted campaigns to alert tenants who may be missing out on essential financial aid. With various solutions, like Collections, Caseload Manager, and Engage, you can craft tailored campaigns that quickly identify tenants who need help – from securing Pension Credit to applying energy grants.
We developed our Collections and Caseload Manager software to streamline communication and help guarantee tenants receive the vital support that they need, especially during the colder months. While they can’t be used to identify tenants with poorer EPC ratings, these solutions power day-to-day tasks and empower you to create tailored campaigns to deliver specific messages to the right customers – quickly and at scale.
By leveraging automation with Voicescape, you reach tenants within tight timeframes, ensuring they receive their Universal Credit, along with other financial aid and winter support when they need it. It’s all about being there for your communities.
The UC transition
Big changes have come for tenants who are currently claiming legacy benefits as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continue the managed migration process, moving all working-age claimants to UC. As a result, right now is the perfect time to triple-check that any tenants who are still due to migrate won’t lose their benefits.
Failure to migrate can often result in the termination of legacy benefits, leaving tenants without support. Many of the most vulnerable tenants are in fact those who face challenges with migration – including those claiming Severe Disability Premiums. These tenants may have already received their migration notices, making it essential for housing associations to engage with them as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to UC, and that there is no break in claim and transitional protection is in place where necessary. With Voicescape tools like Caseload Manager, you can help those at risk of missing their deadline and offer them the support they need to migrate successfully.
Supporting wellbeing during the colder weather
In addition to financial support, housing associations must also consider the overall wellbeing of their tenants. The winter months can exacerbate issues such as loneliness – particularly for older tenants or those with protected characteristics or vulnerabilities. The proactive outreach we mentioned earlier is essential to make sure these tenants aren’t left behind.
Voicescape’s solutions allow housing associations to reach out to tenants who may be at risk of isolation or are struggling to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. With tools like Engage, you can send timely, personalised messages that help tenants access the support they need to stay healthy, safe, and connected.
Ready to ensure your tenants receive the support they need this winter?
This winter, housing associations are weathering the dual challenge of keeping tenants warm while providing them with crucial financial assistance. Armed with Voicescape’s extensive product suite and insightful resources, you can take charge of your engagement early on – guaranteeing you reach the tenants with more complex needs.
Whether it’s assisting with benefits claims, identifying those who need energy support, or ensuring compliance with new legal requirements, the right tools can make all the difference in helping tenants navigate the winter months. Speak to one of our team today and start reaching those who need you the most.