August 10th, 2010
The PM states there will be more prosecutions over benefit fraud. He says the Government is to publish an “uncompromising strategy” to reduce the £5.2bn annual cost of fraud and error. Mr Cameron says there will be tougher penalties and more prosecutions.
Credit ratings firm Experian is in talks over a deal with the Government which could see it paid according to the number of fraudsters uncovered. The Department of Work and Pensions are also examining claims for other benefits. The Prime Minister said tougher penalties, more prosecutions; measures to encourage others to shop cheats and greater efforts to recover “stolen” payments would also be included. This initiative will affect many claimants as much of the £5.2bn is through error. It is anticipated claims will be rigorously examined and guidelines enforced, so if you are a claimant of benefits ensure you supply the relevant agencies with any up to date changes and if you are asked to supply any information return this as quickly as possible, delay can have serious consequences if your benefit is reduced following assessment.
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August 5th, 2010
The new Government is proposing to improve the incentives for those on benefit who want to return to work. They aim to simplify the benefits system with a universal credit that supports people both in and out of work. At present 4.7 million households claim housing benefit, of which 24% are of working age and out of work and 50% are in employment. It is estimated that half of employed households who would be eligible for housing benefit do not claim. What is clear is that this Government will be looking to make savings and all benefits are being reviewed. 
This review will also be linked with getting people back to work. There are benefits specifically designed to help those returning to work such as the extended payment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, this payment provides help for up to four weeks when you start a new job. Also ‘into work’ claims are prioritised and resolved within weeks. Working parents may also get help with childcare costs, and single parents may get ‘In Work Credit’. If you want more information on benefits visit www.direct.gov.uk/benefitadviser or for work opportunities visit http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/. The future prospects for those on benefits appear uncertain, and if you are planning a return to work we suggest you conduct your research thoroughly to ensure you obtain every benefit you are entitled to.
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August 5th, 2010
As from 1st August 2010, Allpay will accept text payments from your phone. This gives you even more flexibility in the way you pay your weekly rent.
With over 75% of the UK adult population now owning a mobile phone Falcon Housing accepts that our tenants are increasingly familiar with this form of communication as over 5000 text messages are sent every second in the UK. For many of our customers this will prove very convenient
How it works…
To begin texting payments you will simply need a UK-registered mobile phone, a valid Allpay Card and a current debit card. After a very brief registration online at https://www.allpayments.net/textpay, you can pay weekly rent anytime, anyplace, anywhere – quite literally! Once registered you simply text a code and the amount you wish to pay to a designated number every time you want to make a payment.
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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June 9th, 2010
Firstly a big thank you to the sixty five tenants who returned their questionnaires prior to the deadline. The information supplied will contribute towards our plans for the future, and over the next few months we will evaluate how this can help us improve the services we provide to you.
What was pleasing for us was the overwhelming vote of confidence in the staff and you being satisfied with being a Falcon Rural Housing tenant. The first impression was that overall tenants want more information; some would like input into the decisions made, but very few wanted to have empowerment to make decisions. However, we did have tenants volunteer to join the Management Committee and this is currently being pursued. The draw was made for a £50 Argos voucher by the Chairman Adrian Little and the winner was Mandy Pople from Nether Stowey.
A report will be compiled detailing how the information from this survey has impacted on the services we provide to our tenants, contractors and partners, this will probably be summarised in one of our future newsletters.
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May 5th, 2010
If you or a family member is thinking of applying for rented accommodation with a social landlord or considering an exchange, you will probably find that the procedure has dramatically changed.
Since 2009 ALL social landlords advertise ALL of their housing vacancies on the Somerset home finder web site at www.homefindersomerset.co.uk or if you live in Devon www.devonhomechoice.com. This is a partnership of local authorities and housing associations working together to make the process of finding a home simple and transparent for all applicants.
To start the process of finding a new home you need to be registered for social housing. If you are looking for social housing anywhere, you now only have to complete one application form and your needs will be assessed against the same clear set of criteria no matter where you live. Registering can be completed by visiting the above web sites, or by completing a written application obtained by contacting your local authority or social landlord.
When registered you will receive a PIN number which allows you to visit the web pages and browse through ALL the housing vacancies in your area. If you find a house or houses which are of interest, you can make a bid for that house by a simple process. If you are not on the Internet or have access to the Internet, do not despair as there is a facility to phone and listen to what properties are available and make a bid.
Once all the bids are received, they are then available for the social landlord to assess and make a decision.
Falcon Housing will interview all prospective tenants who meet the criteria and when a new tenant is found, will update the Internet with this information.
If you or a family member are looking for a new home and are still not sure, phone us for advice.
Posted in Finding a New Home | No Comments »
April 13th, 2010
Do you have something that’s useful but you no longer want or need? Don’t dump your old unwanted items, like furniture, washing machines, and televisions even old beds, if it’s too good to throw away don’t waste it, advertise on one of the free recycling sites and find it a new home in Somerset or Devon.
It may be you need something? Everything on these web sites is free to collect so why not get something for nothing. These web sites hope to help people recycle for free and encourage reuse locally.
If you are interested merely in improving the environment, by putting items you no longer need back on the market and offering free recycled goods, you can help reduce the growing landfill problem, while giving your unwanted possessions a new lease on life with people who will make good use of them.
Here are a few web sites to try www.freeuseit.net , www.freerecycling.co.uk and www.snaffleup.co.uk.
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March 9th, 2010
Many of you claim Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, Working Tax Credits etc, but did you know there are currently billions of pounds of unclaimed benefit.
The benefits system provides practical help and financial support if you are unemployed and looking for work. It also provides you with additional income when your earnings are low, if you are bringing up children, are retired, caring for someone, are ill or have a disability.
There are several ways you can find out what you are entitled to, but if you have access to the internet, from the comfort of your home you can easily find out what benefits you may be entitled to and even get a rough estimate as to how much these will be by logging on to www.direct.gov.uk/.
Here you just follow the link to the ‘Benefits’ page and from there select the ‘Benefits Advisor’ link. You will be invited to enter details such as income, dependants, disabilities or if you are caring for someone. It is a very simple process and you will remain anonymous if you wish.
One of the most common problems with claiming benefits is when the claimant fails to notify of a change of circumstance and has to repay a large amount of money. This experience can result in a potential claimant not applying in the future for benefits they may be entitled to. Please remember that if you claim the worse case scenario is that you are turned down, and if you are successful ensure you know how and what to report as a change of circumstance.
If you do not have internet access and are of working age, the Job Centre Plus offers advice on many of the various benefits you can claim. If you’re a pensioner or planning for retirement, contact The Pension Service for information on pensions and related benefits. Alternatively for free, independent benefits advice, contact your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
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March 9th, 2010
Falcon is committed to working with our partners and tenants and following a recent Housing Management meeting it was suggested Falcon provides information to their tenants on possible ways to save money by switching gas and electric service providers.
To switch suppliers has never been easier and by merely visiting an Energy Comparison site, and entering your current usage, you will see if it is possible to save money. To make this easy the web sites below can quickly and easily compare all major suppliers.
Falcon tenants are free to choose which company supplies their gas and electricity. There are no changes to the pipes and all that changes is the price you pay and who you pay it to. To get a quote takes just a few minutes and we suggest you have a current bill ready if you intend to use these sites as this will give you the information required to make an accurate recommendation.
The search will compare all major energy suppliers and the results are usually ranked in order of the savings you can make. All the information presented comes from the energy suppliers directly and is regularly updated to ensure it is accurate.
If you choose to make a change this can be done by making an application by email which is automatically forwarded securely to your chosen energy supplier. The supplier will start processing the switch, and will contact you to confirm when your new service will begin; this may take up to 50 days.
This process is a fully comprehensive, fully independent and a fully impartial service. Within a matter of minutes you could be saving hundreds of pounds a year on your household bills.
Falcon Housing cannot take any responsibility for any issues encountered when using the below Energy Comparison sites.
Can you save money on your gas & electricity bills?
Simply Switch
Energy Choices
U Switch
Posted in Money Saving Tips | No Comments »
March 8th, 2010
Domestic violence is where a person involved in or has previously been involved with another in an intimate relationship and one person from that relationship is abused either physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically or financially. The victims of domestic abuse can be both women and men and it wrecks thousands of lives.
Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off event and may be demonstrated as intimidation, threats, verbal abuse, economic abuse, or other non-violent but controlling behaviour. Physical and sexual abuse has a tendency to increase over time and the severity may escalate.
If you or someone you know is subject to any abuse, advice can be found by visiting the following web pages:
Victim Support Somerset
Home Office – Domestic Violence
Women’s Aid
Taunton Women’s Refuge
BBC – Hitting Home
Right of Women – Legal Information
Refuge
Avon & Somerset Constabulary – Domestic Violence
Citizen Advice Bureau
The Hideout (for Children & Young People)
Somerset Survivors
Posted in Health & Safety | No Comments »
March 8th, 2010
For your safety, every Falcon property will have been fitted with a smoke detector; the make and model which is fitted has varied over the years as the technology has advanced, but it is there to save lives. Older houses will have battery operated smoke detectors, some have detectors in the light fitting which has no battery and more recent houses will have detectors that are connected to the mains but have a battery back up. What they all have in common is the need to test them regularly. Falcon will regularly test those detectors in communal areas and some flats; however the tenants of all other properties are responsible for testing and replacing batteries where fitted.
Most ceiling mounted detectors will have a simple test button located on the front of the panel, and those detectors fitted in a light fitting, usually a ‘fire angel’, can easily be tested by switching the light on, and then switch the light off, then on again in rapid succession. After a short delay your Fire Angel will self test. We recommend testing is carried out weekly and if any problems are found other than replacing the battery, please contact Falcon immediately.
Remember this small device could save your life, look after it.
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