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The Frontline Network joins forces with Turn2us to provide tools on benefits and grants

The Frontline Network joins forces with Turn2us to provide tools on benefits and grants

The Frontline Network joins forces with Turn2us to provide tools on benefits and grants

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Frontline Network has launched an exciting new partnership with Turn2us to give frontline workers access to their Benefits Calculator and Grants Search facilities through this website.


Bridget McCall, Information Specialist for Turn2us, explains what these tools are and how they can help.


Turn2us is a national charity helping people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services – online, by phone and face to face. We believe that no one should have to live in financial hardship. So we’re here for anyone who is struggling financially or worried about money.


Last year 1.3 million benefits calculations were carried out using our Benefits Calculator and over half a million searches made through our Grants Search. We gave over £3 million in direct grant support and estimate that we enabled people to access a further £189 million in statutory benefits and in grants from other charities.


Low awareness of the help available through benefits and grants


Over 13 million people currently live in poverty in the UK – including 3.7 million children. At the same time, 16.6 billion in benefits and tax credits go unclaimed each year and £366 million is available in grants from charitable funds.


Previous Turn2us research has highlighted the low levels of awareness that people have about the financial support that could be gained from benefits and grants. 78% of people on low incomes in the study who were not claiming any means-tested benefits did not think that they would be entitled to any support. This is reflected elsewhere – for example, Age UK estimates that 900,000 pensioners are living in severe poverty yet 1.6m older people who are entitled to Pension Credit are not claiming it.


Awareness of the help that may be available from charitable funds is even lower. Our research showed that 90% of people did not know that help from a charitable grant might be possible.


Turn2us Tools: 


Benefits Calculator


The Benefits Calculator allows frontline workers to quickly assess what a client may be entitled to. It’s free, confidential and shows you quickly what benefits your client is entitled to as well as how to make a claim.


Turn2us Grants Search


The Turn2us Grants Search allows you to find possible charitable funds that may be able to help your clients, depending on their background, circumstances and needs.


Turn2us direct grants


Turn2us also gives direct grants help through a range of funds administered directly by the charity including:


• The Elizabeth Finn Fund -  which helps people who have a professional or similar occupational background or connection
• The Edinburgh Trust - which supports people in need in the City of Edinburgh
• Turn2us Response Fund - a new fund to help people who have experienced a life-changing event in the past 12 months.


Further information


The Turn2us Benefits Calculator and Grants Search are available now in the Resources section of the Frontline Network website, or more information can be found on the Turn2us website. 

 

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