Pilot ‘Advice First’ Project To Help Alleviate Food Poverty

The concept of this pilot project is to ensure that people who are presenting at crisis support services have full access to the free, confidential and independent advice they need to help them improve their situation.

 

The pilot was operationalised by the 3 delivery partners with Advice NI coordinating: -

 

EBIAC: A member advice centre located in the heart of inner East Belfast.  EBIAC deliver their services to the whole community which include welfare benefits, tax credits, employment, housing and debt. In addition, EBIAC provides a number of specialist services, including a mental health outreach service and an advocacy service which includes representation at social security tribunals.

Storehouse: Storehouse freely provides food, clothes and toiletry packs to families and individuals throughout Belfast who are experiencing extreme financial difficulty. They assist those moving from homelessness or hostel accommodation into their own home for the first time, by providing furniture & basic household goods.

The Larder: The Larder Food Bank, Mersey Street, was founded in 2013 as a way of supporting struggling households in the area. It has seen demand for its services soar throughout the lockdown and during the current cost of living crisis, as more and more people came to them for assistance.

 

EBIAC made available a generalist adviser to be present at a set time/day during the week in the Storehouse and The Larder.  It was envisaged that overtime the adviser would build up a trusting relationship with the people using The Larder and Storehouse services, so that they would be more comfortable in availing the advice and support that could help resolve their current issues whilst providing the help to improve their situation in the future.  

Storehouse and The Larder made available confidential space within their premises where the adviser was able to meet people for scheduled and drop-in appointments. 

 

We are currently just at the end of the pilot and are working on writing up a report that will not only highlight the statistics but also delve into case studies to show the wider issues covered and how the pilot project has helped change people’s lives for the better.  The initial findings are positive in terms of engagement and targeting the most vulnerable people in need of help.

 

Below are a few of case studies just to highlight the impact of the pilot: -

 

Richard – Taking the holistic approach

“Richard, not his real name, aged 42, is currently single and on sick leave. He resides in his own house with a mortgage. In December 2022, he suffered causing both physical and cognitive impairments that significantly limited his capacity to perform in a work environment.

Richard applied for Universal Credit. However, due to memory issues, he faced challenges in submitting the UC50 work capability assessment form on time. We reached out to UC, and they provided him with another UC50 form, which we assisted him in completing.

As a result, Richard was placed in the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity UC. He was better off £390.06 per month.

Additionally, Richard has been facing financial difficulties. Prior to the stroke, he had been employed and self-sufficient. However, his health deteriorated to the point where he could no longer work. Additionally, he separated from his partner, which exacerbated his situation, as he had to sell the house to settle his partner's share. Equity to outstanding debts we put him in touch with the Debt Adviser, Advice NI, in our office and he provided Richard with an emergency appointment, with his help Richard received assistance in assisting to put in place action to resolve financial matter causes him so much stress.

We advised Richard regarding UC assistance with housing costs once he had obtained a place to rent.

Due to his poor health and memory problems, we further advised regarding a PIP application. He applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with our assistance and was awarded standard mobility activity PIP - £26.90 per week better off. We are however assisting Richard with a mandatory reconsideration request to see if he can achieve a further award from PIP for daily living activities.

Overall, Richard received £390.06 per month increase in his UC entitlement; we advised re future housing costs help with UC; and he receives an extra £26.90 per week PIP payment. We also assisted in reliving his debt stress that he was facing.”

 

Proving support throughout stressful processes

“Our client Marie (not her real name) was suffering badly from “long Covid” after-affects and was struggling to hold down her job.  She was very reticence about starting a PIP application; but after seeking our advice she started an application. 

We assisted her in obtaining supportive medical evidence from her GP and consultant; assisted with completion of the PIP application form and later advised her on the assessment interview process. 

Marie was then delighted to inform us that her application had been successful, and she was awarded standard rate daily living activity PIP £68.10 per week and standard rate mobility activity PIP £26.90 per week.  She also received a back payment of £1700. 

Marie was delighted with the outcome and said without EBIAC’s support and help throughout she would not have had the courage to pursue an application.”

 

Quick success in Mandatory Reconsideration request 

“James (not his real name) had applied himself for PIP, but his application had been refused. He was mystified at such a refusal as was recovering from a heart attack, and suffering from Type II Diabetes, clinical depression, feet problems, and severe breathlessness. 

We advised James regarding a mandatory reconsideration request.  We assisted him in obtaining updated medical reports. We then completed a supportive submission letter to PIP office on James’ behalf. 

Within 4 weeks James contacted out office to inform us that the mandatory reconsideration request had been successful He was awarded enhanced rate daily living activity OPIP £101.75 per week and standard rate mobility activity PIP £26.90 per week. He also received a back dated payment of £1929.75. 

James said “The support I received throughout this extremely stressful process from EBIAC was first class.  I was all at sea until I went to EBIAC for help.”