Money and benefits advice

You may be entitled to benefits or other financial support, even if you’re working.

Use a benefits calculator to check:

• what benefits you may be able to claim
• how much you could receive
• how changes to your income or circumstances could affect your benefits

The calculator will ask for information about your household, income, savings and housing costs.

Check what benefits you could get.

If you’re struggling with debt or starting to miss payments, getting help early can give you more options.

Our Money Advice Team can help you understand your situation and find the right support. We can also connect you with specialist debt advice.

You can get free, independent debt advice from organisations including MoneyHelper and StepChange.

Watch out for loan scams

Be careful if someone offers you a loan and asks you to pay money before you receive it.

It could be a scam if you’re:

• asked to pay an upfront fee
• pressured to make a payment quickly
• asked to pay using unusual methods, such as vouchers or money transfers.

Before borrowing money, check that the lender is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

You can also get free, independent and confidential advice about money, budgeting and debt from specialist organisations.

• Money and Pensions Service – provides free and impartial money and pensions guidance.
• StepChange Debt Charity – offers free debt advice and support. Call 0800 138 1111.
• MoneyHelper – provides free guidance on managing your money, budgeting and dealing with debt.

MoneyHelper can also provide guidance if you’re:

• struggling to pay your bills
• dealing with a reduced income
• self-employed
• worried about redundancy.

If you’re struggling to heat your home or pay your energy bills, there may be support available.

Our Let’s Talk Energy team can help if you’re struggling with:

• fuel debt
• reconnecting your energy supply
• incorrect bills
• heating your home
• understanding your energy charges.

Request energy support

If you’re struggling to pay your water bill, contact your water supplier. They may have schemes that can reduce your bill or help you manage your payments.

WaterSure

WaterSure may be able to cap your water bill if you have a water meter, receive certain benefits and:

• have three or more children under 19 living at home, or
• have a medical condition that means you need to use more water.

You’ll need to provide evidence when you apply.

WaterHelp

If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get a reduction in your water bill through WaterHelp.

Eligibility depends on your household income and how much of your income is spent on your water bill.

Behind with your water bill?

Your water supplier cannot disconnect your water because you owe money, but it’s important to contact them as soon as possible.

They may be able to agree a payment plan or tell you about other support available.

If your home is considered to have more bedrooms than your household needs, your Housing Benefit or the housing element of your Universal Credit may be reduced.

This is sometimes called the bedroom tax or under-occupancy charge.

What can I do if I'm affected?

You may be able to:

• apply to your local council for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
• look at options for moving to a home that better meets your needs
• ask our Money Advice Team for help understanding your options.

Are there exemptions?

Different rules may apply if you need an additional bedroom because of a disability or health condition, or because you need an overnight carer.

If you think this applies to you, you can ask for your claim to be reviewed.

If you receive Universal Credit, contact the DWP about your housing costs. If you receive Housing Benefit, contact your local council.

Our Money Advice Team can help if you’re unsure what applies to you.

Riverside insures the building you live in, but we don’t insure your personal belongings.

Home contents insurance can help protect your belongings if they’re lost or damaged because of things such as:

• theft
• fire
• flooding or burst pipes
• vandalism
• accidental damage, depending on your policy.

Depending on the cover you choose, insurance may also cover things such as lost or stolen keys, freezer contents and somewhere else to stay if your home is badly damaged.

Tenants’ contents insurance

Riverside provides access to a tenants’ contents insurance scheme for tenants, shared owners and leaseholders.

The scheme is administered by URIS and underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance Office PLC.

There are two levels of cover:

• Simple: Covers your home contents against events such as theft, fire and flood, as well as some accidental breakage.
  
• Simple+: Includes everything covered by Simple, with additional accidental damage cover for your home contents.

Optional cover may also be available for belongings such as bicycles, hearing aids and wheelchairs.

You can choose to pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly or annually, and there is no excess to pay if you make a claim.

You don’t have to use Riverside’s insurance scheme. You can choose another insurance provider if you prefer.

Already have insurance through Riverside?

If you already have a policy through Riverside’s tenants’ contents insurance scheme, check your policy information for details about your cover and provider.

Need to make a claim?

You can submit a claim and track its progress using the insurer’s online claims portal.