Extra help for furloughed staff
There are hundreds of residents in the borough who could be missing out on extra financial help due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Official figures show that Slough has around 19,000 people furloughed under the Government’s COVID-19 support programme, one of the highest figures in the UK outside of London.
Residents who have been furloughed or now claiming Universal Credit may be entitled to, but have yet to apply for, additional assistance from the council in the form of Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit. The entitlement could make their financial situation more manageable.
Neil Wilcox, director of finance and resources, said: “We want to help.
“There are residents who will now be entitled to additional financial help. We are telling people more help may be available and they really should check.
“This is such an unprecedented situation. There are people who have been furloughed or have to claim Universal Credit, some for the first time in their working lives, who just don’t know there is other financial support available from the council.
“Checking whether they are entitled to additional financial support is really easy and can be done online as well as making an application for support.”
Council Tax Support could lead to a discount for the time where a resident has been furloughed or claimed Universal Credit, which will be taken off the remainder of the year’s bills.
Go to www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/council-tax-support.aspx where there is a calculator which will assist in working out whether a resident is entitled to extra help before they apply online.
There is more information about Housing Benefits here www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/housing-benefit.aspx.
Official figures show that Slough has around 19,000 people furloughed under the Government’s COVID-19 support programme, one of the highest figures in the UK outside of London.
Residents who have been furloughed or now claiming Universal Credit may be entitled to, but have yet to apply for, additional assistance from the council in the form of Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit. The entitlement could make their financial situation more manageable.
Neil Wilcox, director of finance and resources, said: “We want to help.
“There are residents who will now be entitled to additional financial help. We are telling people more help may be available and they really should check.
“This is such an unprecedented situation. There are people who have been furloughed or have to claim Universal Credit, some for the first time in their working lives, who just don’t know there is other financial support available from the council.
“Checking whether they are entitled to additional financial support is really easy and can be done online as well as making an application for support.”
Council Tax Support could lead to a discount for the time where a resident has been furloughed or claimed Universal Credit, which will be taken off the remainder of the year’s bills.
Go to www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/council-tax-support.aspx where there is a calculator which will assist in working out whether a resident is entitled to extra help before they apply online.
There is more information about Housing Benefits here www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-and-money/housing-benefit.aspx.
