Coronavirus financial support and payment FAQs
24/03/2020
We understand that many people are facing increased financial uncertainty due to the coronavirus outbreak. We want to assure our residents that if you are self-isolating and worried about what happens if you can’t pay your rent or lose your job, we’re here to talk through your options.
We have put together a list of frequently asked questions about rent and service charges which covers the key questions we have received from residents so far.
Do I need to pay my rent?
You are responsible for paying your rent and service charges, but we recognise that many people are facing financial difficulties right now. If you are worried about not being able to pay your rent, please call us on 0300 323 0325 and ask to speak to our Financial Support team who will be able to talk you through the options available.
How can I pay my rent or service charges if your receptions are closed?
We recognise that a lot of residents prefer to pay their rent in-person and because of Government guidance on social distancing, this has become increasingly more difficult to do. During this time, we encourage you to use one of our other options to pay your rent. For the full list of ways you can pay your rent or service charges, please visit
www.originhousing.org.uk/residents/rent-and-payments or call us on 0300 323 0325.
My rent and service charges are due to increase in April. Can this increase be delayed?
When we set our rent and service charges, the full impact of the Coronavirus hadn’t yet hit the UK. We are following Government guidance on what we should be offering to our residents. At the moment there has been no advice about rent decreases, but please get in touch with us if you need some financial help and support.
I’ve lost my job, what support is available?
You may be entitled to benefit support
. You can complete your own free benefit assessment using our online benefit calculator to find out if you are eligible at
originhousing.entitledto.co.uk, or you can call us on 0300 323 0325 and ask to speak to our Financial Support team.
Benefit claims can be made online at
www.gov.uk/browse/benefits
I’ve been told to self-isolate. What will happen to my pay?
If you’re not entitled to sick pay from work, then you may be entitled to claim Statutory Sick Pay or other benefits such as Universal Credit. For more information go to Employment and Financial Support Section of
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Can I claim benefits if I’m self-employed?
Yes. You can claim benefits but your eligibility will be determined by the income that you still have. The government has changed the benefit entitlement rules to better support self-employed people. Check your eligibility at
originhousing.entitledto.co.uk, or for more advice and information go to
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses
How can I check what benefit support might be available to me?
You can:
Please note that if you're making a benefits claim or informing your local Council/ borough of a change in circumstances, do not visit their offices and instead use online services where possible.
If you have a question or concern that is not answered on this page, please call us on 0300 323 0325 and ask to speak to the Income team. You may also find it helpful to read our latest update about what we're doing to stop the spread of coronavirus and what that means for our services
here.