Raising awareness on benefit reforms (From The Oxford Times)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Raising awareness on benefit reforms
1:00pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News
A HOUSING association has launched an advertising campaign to inform tenants about major forthcoming benefit changes.
Didcot’s Soha Housing is using advertising, text messages and social media to raise awareness.
The “Act Now – Ask Soha How” campaign also includes a YouTube video.
Changes from April 1 include a “bedroom tax” that will cut housing benefit for tenants judged to have “spare” bedrooms.
Future benefits will be capped at one per cent for three years while most benefits – with some exceptions – will be limited to £350-a-week for single people and £500 for others.
From October, Universal Credit will launch a reform that will roll many benefits into one payment.
One in five county residents stand to lose cash under the changes, the Oxford Mail reported this month.
Soha chief executive Richard Peacock said: “These changes are really going to affect our customers – both working people and those whose income comes entirely from benefits.”
