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The Islington borough council created the Resident Support Scheme to address a number of needs of people facing a crisis. The programme combines various financial benefits and emergency assistance services together as one, and the aim is to provide funds to cover everything from rent to stop an eviction to food, welfare, furniture, energy bills, and more.

RSS is made up of the following schemes. The Discretionary Housing Payments, Social Fund, local welfare, and Grants to Residents scheme were all put together and is now called Resident Support. What this means for residents is that they now have one place to go to for support, as the council has access to many sources of funding as a result of the Resident Support Scheme.

However, the assistance is still only for people impacted by a short term crisis but that are also on a low income. Many of the applicants to the council are also affected by benefit cuts or some other roll back in government services. Residents will not be entitled to any award from the council.

Types of help from Islington RSS scheme

There are several components to it. Each is limited and only offered at the discretion of the council. If an applicant is not eligible for one part of the programme, then they may be redirected to another source of assistance.

Interest free loans are available in Islington from Jobcentre Plus office as part of the Department for Work and Pension advances. This is effective if the person is waiting on their benefits to start, or maybe they are claiming the Universal Credit. The loans can be used for expenses such as clothing, rent, furniture, heating costs, telephone bills for work, or more. While the money is available interest free, the Islington will still need to repay it.

The Resident Support Scheme also includes Hardship Payments for people that have had their Job Seekers Allowance stopped due to a sanction. Or Short Term Benefit Advances can be arranged by the council as well as a local Jobcentre Plus Office. Residents of the Islington borough have access to all of these sources of funds as part of RSS.

Hardship Payments can also be used while an Islington resident is waiting on the new Universal Credit to start. Many claimants have a delay in their payments. Or they are struggle to keep up with their bills due to the one cheque from Universal Credit. In these cases the payment may help. There may even be national telephone bill help for job-seekers

When those programmes are not available from the council or their partners such as Department for Work and Pension, then the next step is to apply for a grant as part of Resident Support. Or they link residents to other charities, including churches. The aim is to help the vulnerable prevent a health or safety crisis. The uses of the grant can be for the following bills.

• Discretionary Housing Payments are part of RSS, and this can help tenants that are in rent arrears that is caused by benefit cuts.
• Grants that were normally issued by St Selpuchre (Finsbury) United Charities or the Cripplegate Foundation are now part of the council scheme.
• Household items such as furniture, white goods, or heaters may be given to the household.
• Financial assistance from the Islington can also include free food parcels or a hot meal.
• Linkage is given to other services. As one example, there is St. Stephens church free meals.

Other support is provided by the Resident Support Scheme. Not only can a family receive a grant for their bills, but advice is provided. This is wide ranging and addresses many problems.

• The client will partner with a specialist to address any debt or rent arrears they have.
• There are life skills classes to help residents build confidence, and another key part of the RSS scheme is to address employment.
• Those on welfare will be able to sign up for course or get help with activities such as creating a CV.
• Specialists will help families entering into payment plans with their fuel providers.

Applications are available at many agencies in the Islington borough. Individuals can apply at Age UK offices, Children’s or Housing Services, Single Homeless Project, Cranstoun Drug Services, or contact the council. That post is 22 Upper Street, N1 1XR, or they can call 020 7527 4990. Members of the Customer Claims Teams at the council can provide more information.