Please see below some local level updates for Plymouth services and how they are adjusting during the Coronavirus outbreak. Please note, information is subject to change and we will update as we receive additional updates.
If you are not currently part of the Plymouth Frontline Network and would like to receive their updates on activities, please email Jane Cookson - Jane.Cookson@pathdevon.org
Accommodation is being provided for everyone, including an additional 39 beds for people sleeping rough in private rented accommodation across Plymouth. Please see press release from Plymouth City Council for further details. Please see here for advice if you see people sleeping rough. For the latest updates from Plymouth City Council, please see here. PCC can be contacted on 01752 668000.
Adult Social Care Team update- the ASC have been instructed to un-allocate themselves from all clients and focus solely on urgent problems arising due to Coronavirus. Any urgent concerns will need to be raised with the Adult Social Care via the main 668000 telephone number.
Universal Credit
From 6 April the government is increasing the standard allowance in Universal Credit and the basic element in Working Tax Credit for one year. Both will increase by £20 per week on top of planned annual uprating. This will apply to all new and existing Universal Credit customers and to existing Working Tax Credit customers. This means that for a single Universal Credit customer (aged 25 or over), the standard allowance will increase from £317.82 to £409.89 per month.
Understanding Universal Credit and Coronavirus
Helping someone claim
Energy industry and how they plan to support our vulnerable customers during Covid-19
Local Housing Allowance Rates
From April, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates will be increased to the 30th percentile of market rents. This means that LHA will pay for at least 30% of market rents in each area. This will apply to all private renters who are new or existing Universal Credit housing element customers, and to existing Housing Benefit customers.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
UK workers of any employer who is placed on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can keep their job, with the government paying up to 80% of a worker’s wages, up to a total of £2,500 per worker each month. This will be backdated to 1 March and will be initially open for 3 months, to be extended if necessary.
This scheme is being delivered by HMRC, and will be available in the coming weeks; more information on Gov.uk.
Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters
- Emergency legislation to suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while the national emergency is taking place.
- No new possession proceedings through applications to the court to start during the crisis.
- Landlords will also be protected as 3-month mortgage holiday is extended to Buy to Let mortgages.
Information on preventing and spotting loan shark use during Covid-19
Please see Livewell Southwest for updates relating to Community Mental Health support in Plymouth.
Harbour can be still be contacted for drug and alcohol support via their main number as usual. Callers will be advised on how referrals and assessments are being managed. This includes access to mental health support & prescribing. Please see here.
Plymouth Foodbank at 28 Manor Street is still open for food recipients on Monday and Wednesdays from 1.30 - 3.30 and on Friday from 10 -12.
- If you have clients in need please continue to refer them to us as normal. If you are not operating on a face-to-face basis at the moment, please telephone 01752 254981 to register a voucher, informing them of your voucher number and details that you hold about the client you are referring. You can telephone from 9.00am- 12pm, Monday - Thursday.
If this is not possible you can scan in the voucher/ or email the required details if you can't access vouchers and send to this email.
Please note that we don't have a delivery service and if you can help your clients if they are self-isolating with this that would be good.
Please also refer to Plymouth Online Directory for other updates on local services and access to support and resources during this time. This includes a Covid-19 professional portal.
For see here for information on the Plymouth Trauma Informed Network, and resources that can support you currently.
SMITF_frontline
Tuesday, 01 December 2020
Work in Housing First in Wales? Alex from @CymorthCymru recently spoke at one of our Housing First events and he has just written a blog for us in which he provides more info about HF in Wales and the work that he has been doing!
https://t.co/mdMX4vA8Ly