Real help now

for people

for businesses

Where to find help with homes, jobs and finances when you need it

February 2009

Real help for people and businesses

The international financial crisis and the recession it has caused around the world, and now in the UK, is having a real impact on individuals, families and businesses.

The Government is acting because extra support is needed to get us through the downturn. So a range of new help is being made available for those who need it, from homeowners with difficulties paying their mortgages, or people seeking employment or training, to small businesses with cashflow problems and larger businesses needing working capital.

This booklet tells you what help is available now and where to find it. It also includes details of extra support that is being introduced this spring, and we will update it as more help becomes available.

The Government’s priorities to get Britain through the recession are:

     to prevent the collapse of the banking system, so that people’s savings are secure and the banks can do their job;

     to get the financial system lending responsibly again so as to support businesses, jobs and growth;

     to support the economy and jobs through direct government action, including tax cuts and important investment projects; and

     to help people through more difficult times with the support described in this booklet.

Action has also been taken to boost our economy by putting money in people’s pockets and bringing investment plans forward. This includes:

     income tax cuts of £145 for every basic rate taxpayer;

     £60 extra for pensioners this winter;

     a VAT cut worth on average over £200 to every family this year;

     an extra £3 billion investment in projects that will protect and create jobs; and

     a £75 above inflation increase in the child element of the Child Tax Credit from April 2009, worth up to £2,235 a year for families.

Real help now, when you need it.

Contents

Real help for people now

Real help for businesses now

Help with keeping your home               6

Help with keeping your home

You may be concerned about how the global economic downturn might affect your housing. If your job has been affected, you may be worried about keeping up with your mortgage repayments. Below you will find information about the help that is currently available. Additional support for homeowners is being developed and will be available over the next few months.

Help to avoid repossession

We want to help people in financial difficulties stay in their homes. If you are worried about paying your mortgage, you should talk to your lender first as it may be able to help you find alternatives, such as cutting your monthly repayments. New rules introduced in November 2008 mean that repossession should always be a last resort, and lenders have agreed to look at all possible options to prevent it.

You may be able to get free legal advice from the Community Legal Service to help you avoid immediate repossession if you are attending court. To find out about this help, contact your local county court (or sheriff court in Scotland).

Help with housing costs

If you need financial help to pay all or part of your rent, you may get Housing Benefit, provided that your income and capital (savings and investments) are below a certain level. If you rent from a private landlord there’s a new way of working out Housing Benefit – known as Local Housing Allowance.

Your council can also help with advice on rented accommodation or social housing and can tell you what help you may be able to receive, including temporary housing and other help if you are at risk of becoming homeless.

For more information contact your local council by visiting [www.direct.gov.uk].

Help with skills and training

New skills can help you get on in life. Taking a course can increase your chance of keeping or getting a job, help you move up in your job, enable you to change to a different industry or type of job. Depending on your age and circumstances, you may be able to get free training and other support.

If you are in Wales or Scotland, see the separate box at the end of this section for contact details for local help.

Advice on careers, skills and training

Whether you are in work or not, you can get independent advice about skills and job possibilities. From basic skills to work-related training, management and leadership training and university courses, you may be able to get free or partially funded training.

Visit the Careers Advice Service website
[www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice] or call
0800 100 900.

nextstep can also provide face-to-face advice and careers guidance. For more information, visit
[www.direct.gov.uk/nextstep].

For people aged 13-19, Connexions offers advice on education and careers by phone, online or face-to-face from a local Connexions provider.
Call 080 800 13 2 19 or visit
[www.connexions-direct.com].

To find your closest college, so that you can contact it directly, visit [www.aoc.co.uk/en/about_colleges] and click on ‘Directory’.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a way to learn while you work. You can now do apprenticeships in a wide range of new areas, covering more than 180 different careers and about 80 industry sectors. They are open to women and men and to younger and older workers, and you can apply whether or not you are already in employment.

Contact the Apprenticeships Service
[www.apprenticeships.org.uk], 0800 015 0600.

Financial support for training

Whatever course you are taking, you may be able to get a grant, a loan, (including Professional Career Development Loans to study at college or university), help with childcare costs, or other financial help. For example, around two-thirds of higher education students should be able to get a full or partial non-repayable grant – ranging from students who receive the Education Maintenance Allowance to learners up to the age of 60 taking their first degree.

Visit the education and learning section of Directgov [www.direct.gov.uk/learning].

Help for graduates

Directgov can give you advice if you are about to graduate anywhere in the UK and are thinking about your career opportunities and what working life might mean, or if you are interested in further study options. It can also advise you if you are working but would like to apply your skills to a different sector.

Visit the advice for graduates section of Directgov [www.direct.gov.uk/graduates].

If you are a recent graduate who is now unemployed, you can also contact any university’s careers advice service. To find your local university visit HERO’s University Finder [www.hero.ac.uk].

Help with jobs and benefits

If you are worried about losing your job and about what you would do for money if the worst happened, there is a wide range of services and help available to support you.

If you are about to be made redundant

Redundancy can be a worrying time. Jobcentre Plus provides information on what to expect from your employer and what effect redundancy has on making a claim for benefit. Jobcentre Plus will give you details of where to find extra information and help on redundancy issues, making a claim for benefit and finding a new job.

To find out more visit the Jobcentre Plus website [www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk]. If you are a member of a trade union, you can also get help, advice and support from it if you have concerns about redundancy.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) can provide advice and guidance on legal issues connected to redundancy. Visit the ACAS website [www.acas.org.uk] or call 08457 474747.

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