After a challenging year, we’re pleased to share our achievements and performance for the year in our latest Annual Report. In this edition, we review each of our objectives, focusing on improving services to residents, ensuring compliance and providing new homes. We also share our performance in complaints and resident satisfaction, and cover lessons learnt from resident feedback.
Read the Annual Report online today.
“We know how important it is to get services right because the cost-of-living crisis is putting even more pressure on people’s finances.” – Heather Thomas, Chair of ccha.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of the report, and if you have any feedback or suggestions, please email us at citeam@ccha.biz.
If you’d like to receive ccha publications directly to your inbox, you can sign up to our email list.
If you need the report in an alternative format, we can provide print versions, large print, audiotape, Braille and translated versions. Request yours by calling 0800 054 6710 or emailing citeam@ccha.biz.
Read the summer newsletter online today.
In this edition, we cover:
- Changes within ccha
- Financial tips
- Making an environmental difference
- An exclusive interview with Vincent
- What’s happening in your community
- How to keep cool in the summer
- And many more!
For a chance to win Love2Shop vouchers, we have a new competition for all movie lovers.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Connections and if you have any feedback, please email us at rachell@ccha.biz and samm@ccha.biz.
Want to receive Connections directly to your inbox? Sign up to our email list.
Do you need the newsletter in an alternative format? We can provide print versions, large print, audio tape, Braille and translated versions. Request yours by calling 0800 054 6710 or emailing citeam@ccha.biz.
Good news for pre-payment Gas and Electricity customers.
From July 2023, if you pay on a prepay meter, you’ll only pay what is necessary for the gas and electricity used, similar to how those with Direct Debits pay.
How to stay safe from scammers and fraudsters
The company WHICH has introduced a Scam Tracker to help you keep up to date with the latest scams.
Click here to stay informed on the latest scams.
Here are a few recent scams to be aware of:
- The Halifax Scam: If you receive a text message that appear to be from Halifax, asking you to confirm a payment you have recently made and gives you a number to call, don’t call that number. Contact Halifax directly by calling the number on the back of your bank card.
- The Netflix Scam: If you receive an email from Netflix to say your subscription has been suspended due to an unauthorized payment, do not click on any links within the email. Instead, you can log into your Netflix account to check.
- The Microsoft Scam: If you receive a message from Microsoft saying your device has been infected and to call a number, do not call it. You can use your computer settings to run a virus check, but you shouldn’t need to call Microsoft.
The Household Support Fund (HSF) – what is it and could it help you during difficult financial times? The governments has given the HSF to each local council to help during the Cost of Living crisis. It was recently extended to March 2024.
Residents can apply to their local council for help with emergency items, including food, gas and electricity, white goods etc. Each council has its own scheme.
Apply for the Housing Support Fund with Croydon Council.
Apply for the Household Support Fund with Sutton Council.
Apply for the Household Support Fund with Bromley Council.
Please note: due to high demand, the councils will close applications from time to time. If you need help, please don’t delay in completing an application.
Changes to childcare costs for some Universal Credit claimants from 28 June.
Some people who get Universal Credit (US) will be entitled to more help with child care costs. This will benefit working parents who are paying more than the maximum amount of child care costs covered by UC.
UC currently pays 85% of the total cost of child care, which is staying the same. Universal Credit used to pay up to a maximum of £760 per month for one child and £1,304 for two or more children. This maximum amount is increasing by 47% to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children.
There are also changes to when childcare costs are paid when you start a job or if your hours increase, which should help with that initial payment & rise in childcare costs.
For more information on Universal Credit and the changes to Child Care costs, please visit the government website.
Migration from old/legacy benefits onto Universal Credit
Eventually, working-age people will be transferred from their existing means-tested benefits (child tax credits, working tax credits, income-related ESA, income-related JSA, income support and housing benefit) onto Universal Credit. This is not a choice, and if you don’t transfer when instructed to by DWP, your benefits will stop altogether.
For those on contribution benefits (contribution ESA and contribution JSA), these are not included in the migration onto Universal Credit. No other benefits are affected, and you will continue to receive these as usual.
Tax credit only claimants will be the first to be moved from August 2023
If the only benefit you claim from the 6 highlighted above is a tax credit, then you will be migrated from August 2023. If you claim more than one of these highlighted benefits, you are not one of these people.
Please note no one should be worse off on Universal Credit than they were on their ‘old’ benefits. This is known as Transitional Protection. If you are worried or receive a letter about switching to UC, please do get in touch with our Welfare Advisor by calling 07384255630 or emailing janew@ccha.biz.
Government announces a 2-year extension to ‘top up’ gaps in your National Insurance Contributions and possibly increase your State Pension.
On 12 June, the government announced that people now have an additional 2 years, until April 2025, to voluntarily fill in any gaps in their National Insurance Record. You may have periods when you were:
- not working, e.g. due to sickness, taking care of a child, caring for someone etc.
- not earning sufficiently
- self-employed and not paying ‘enough’ of the right kind of contributions.
Please note that some of these ‘gaps’ would have been filled in if you were claiming certain other benefits.
If you want to find out if you have gaps in your record or view your State Pension forecast, you will need to sign up for Government Gateway online. Please do get in touch if you need help to do this.
Visit the gov.uk website to find out more.
This summer we have an exciting competition for you to take part in!
Chequers, our gardening and cleaning contractors, are encouraging you to get into gardening and grow your own plants. The winner with the tallest sunflower will win two tickets to Kew Gardens! It’s a fun and rewarding experience, especially when you enjoy the fruits of your labour with your family, friends and neighbours.
For this competition, you’ve hopefully planted your sunflower seeds earlier in spring. Some of our residents have already been given seeds during our open days earlier this year to plant.
The competition ends on 20 August 2023. Make sure the picture reaches us before then. The winner with the tallest sunflower will win two tickets to Kew Gardens!
Good luck and happy planting!
We are pleased to share our priorities for year 4 of our Corporate Business Plan 2025 which runs from April 2023 to March 2024. This year we will be prioritising customer service to ensure we meet residents’ expectations, while also meeting our other objectives.
Read our Corporate Business Plan update online here.
If you’d like an alternative format of this plan, we can provide a printed copy, large print, Braille, audio tape, or translated version. To request an alternative format, please call 020 8633 8764 or email citeam@ccha.biz.
Did you miss your first Cost of Living Payment this year?
People on specific means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA (income related only), Income Support and Working Tax Credits, should have already received a one-off payment of £301 towards the cost of living crisis. This money was paid between 26 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 (slightly different dates applied to those on Tax Credits only).
To be eligible for the Cost-of-Living Payment, you must have been entitled to payment for one of these benefits between 26 January and 25 February 2023.
Please note if you recently became eligible for Pension Credit (i.e., made a claim on or before 19 May 2023). The award was backdated to 25 February 2023 or before – you should still get the payment.
£150 Cost of Living Payment for those with a Disability
People on Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance will receive a one-off payment of £150 between 20 June and 4 July 2023. Again, if you have made a new application for one of these benefits but have not yet had a decision, and this decision is later backdated, you could still be entitled.
How to report a missing £301 Cost of Living Payment
You can report a missing Cost of Living Payment if you think you should have had the £301 payment but cannot see it in your bank, building society or credit union account.
Report a missing Cost of Living Payment.
Scam Warning: Payments are made automatically like you usually get your Benefit payments. If you receive a text message, phone call or email inviting you to make an application for one of these payments, please be careful – it could be a scam.
Calling all our Residents on Pre Payment-Meters – last chance to use or claim your Energy Vouchers:
Around 25% of vouchers in the South East of England are yet to be claimed.
Households on prepayment meters must claim their Energy Support vouchers by 30 June if needed. You will not be able to use them after this date. If you are on a prepayment meter and haven’t received vouchers (one a month for around £66.00 from October 2022 to March 2023, worth a total of £400.00), please get in touch with your Energy Supplier as soon as possible.
Scammers want to steal your money – please be vigilant.
It is not just the elderly and vulnerable that are being caught out. With the increased use of smartphones, social media etc., anyone can be a victim. Remember, Banks, Amazon, Retailers, HMRC etc., will NEVER contact you for your passwords, pin numbers, bank details etc. Never click on links in texts or emails, and never give anyone remote access to your online devices. Be wary of automated calls. Watch out for messages that try and rush you into taking urgent action. If you have any doubts, step away, wait a while and speak to a friend or member of your family first.
The online Which group has a – free scam alert service that can help you spot and avoid the latest scams.
We are happy to announce that we have settled into our new office at 29 Sheldon Street.
The new address is only two minutes from the High Street and not far from public bus stops or train stations. You can see our location on the map included below.
How to find us:
Sheldon Street is located a 2-minute walk from Croydon High Street.
Public transport:
If coming in to East, West or South Croydon Station, you can walk to Sheldon Street in 15-18 minutes, with East Croydon being the closest. If you prefer to get a bus, there are several services that stop along the High Street, however, do require a 2–5-minute walk to reach Sheldon Street.
Driving & parking:
Sheldon Street can be accessed just off the A232. There are a few parking options in the area:
- Pay and Display: Wandle Surface Car Park – this car park is located opposite the office.
- Prebooked Parking: Wandle Road Apcoa Parking – this car park is a 1-minute walk to the office.
- On road parking: you may be able to find on road, pay & display parking in the area.
We are open Mondays to Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm by appointment only.
As our staff are working in the office and at home, they may not be in when you visit without an appointment, therefore, please contact us beforehand to arrange a visit.
Residents can either contact individual team members, email customers@ccha.biz or call our switchboard on 0800 054 6710 to arrange an appointment.
If you need help finding us on the day of your appointment, please call 0800 054 6710 for directions.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Energy vouchers
Please note that the deadline to claim your energy vouchers is Friday 30 June!
If you are on a pre-paid metre and haven’t received your £67 per month voucher to help with your energy bills, please contact your energy supplier before the end of June. If you are unsure how to do this or require further information, don’t hesitate to contact Jane White by emailing janew@ccha.biz.
Cost of Living Payments
The first Cost of Living Payment for this financial year is due anytime between 25 April and 17 May 2023.
You may be entitled up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299 if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits on specific dates:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The amount will be paid automatically into your account. Do not click any links or provide your bank details to anyone requesting this payment.
If you do not receive this first payment, please contact Jane White.
For more information, please visit the Government website.
Rent changes & housing benefit
If you are a resident living in Sutton and have not updated your rent with the local council since 2021, you may be getting paid less housing benefit than you are entitled. This applies to residents who get their housing benefits paid directly to them.
In 2021, Sutton Council stopped accepting Landlord rent increase notifications, meaning residents need to inform the council directly of any rent increase themselves. If you aren’t sure whether you have done this or need support advising Sutton Council, please contact Jane White.
If you need any support with paying your energy bills, counselling or help with accessing benefits, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Welfare & Debt Advice Officer, Jane White, by emailing janew@ccha.biz.
Power outages can happen at any time, either planned or unplanned. With some preparation, you can ensure you are safe and your home is protected during these times.
If you want to check if there is a power outage in your area, you can visit: https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/power-cut
Before the power outage:
- Staying warm: Stock up on thick blankets, bedding and clothing.
- Alternative lighting: Candles may look nice, but they’re a fire and health hazard and should be avoided. Having a torch with batteries means you won’t drain your phone battery, which you might need in an emergency. Getting a solar lantern that can recharge without plugging in or LED lanterns with long-lasting batteries are two other ways to safely light your house.
- Food: Try and keep some non-perishable foods that don’t require cooking in your cupboards such as canned meats, fish, vegetables and fruit or nuts, dried fruits and energy bars.
- Communication: Charge mobile phones, power banks, laptops and other devices. Although landlines are likely to still work even in a power cut many homes no longer have one.
- Key numbers: Make sure you have your utility’s emergency number written down somewhere. If you smell a gas leak, you don’t want to be reliant on Wi-Fi to pull up your utility’s emergency number.
- First aid kit: make sure it is easily accessible
- Something to do: Have some entertainment ready, books, board games, jigsaw puzzles: anything that doesn’t need electricity to work. The biggest enemy during power outages will be boredom, particularly for young children and young adults.
During the power outage:
When the power does go out:
- Do not open fridges or freezers as the cold air will escape.
- If the property has a hot water tank don’t take a shower or bath –save that water for hot water bottles, since the tank will stay warm for a while after the power goes out.
- Unplug electronic equipment including computers, TVs, sound systems, chargers, air fryers, microwaves and ovens. There may be a small possibility of power surges once on the power comes back on, so unplugging will avoid damage and keep people safe.
- Secure vulnerable pets.
- Check on vulnerable neighbours who may need help.
When the power comes back on:
The power will all come back at once, but that doesn’t mean things will work perfectly right away, lots of things may need resetting.
- Check the fuse box for flipped trip switches
- Reset clocks and timers
- Reset Wi-Fi
- Check your refrigerator and freezer for any spoiled food. Some foods, like ice cream, are unsafe to refreeze
- Check on vulnerable neighbours
Thank you to Zurich for providing the above advice.
Read the newsletter online today.
In this edition, we cover:
- How to claim all the benefits you’re entitled to
- Money saving tips
- An update on youth initiatives & how you can take advantage of holiday clubs for your children
- Recent resident events
- How to report damp and mould
- What happens when you call us, including an interview with Debbie
- And more!
As usual, we have our competition for you to enter for a chance to win Love2Shop vouchers and we have included even more recipes for you to try.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Connections and if you have any feedback, please get in touch by emailing me at rachell@ccha.biz
Want to receive Connections directly to your inbox? Sign up to our email list.
Do you need the newsletter in an alternative format? We can provide print versions, large print, audio tape, Braille and translated versions. Request yours by calling 020 8633 8731 or emailing citeam@ccha.biz.