Are you affected by Coronavirus due to illness, self-isolation, or a change in your employment status and worried about paying your rent?
Our message to all customers is simple: if you’re worried about paying your rent, please get in touch.
The sooner you contact us, the quicker we can help you. Please be assured we are here for you and we will do everything we can to support you and your family through these difficult times. We have trained staff who can give you advice on the benefits you can claim during this time and with any additional support you may need.
Many of our tenants will not see a change to their normal income, and will continue to receive their wages, welfare benefits or pensions as normal. We need these tenants to continue to make their rent payments.
Rent is our main source of income. We use this money to carry out repairs and improvements to the homes we manage, and to provide a good quality service, therefore it’s really important that those of you whose income is not affected continue to meet your rent payments as normal.
Remember, you don’t have to leave the house to keep on top of your rent.
Standing Order/Online Banking
You can do this through your banking app, please contact us for your reference number.
Direct Debit
If you wish to pay your rent by direct debit, please call us and we will set this up for you.
Recurring Payment
Recurring Payments are similar to paying at the post office or PayPoint using your Allpay swipe card, without having to actually go out to pay, we can set this up over the phone.
Internet Payments
You can make secure online payments at any time at www.allpayments.net using your Payment Reference Number (PRN) from your swipe card or barcode and your bank card.
Telephone payments
If you do not like to make online payments, you can make payment by calling us and using our simple automated telephone system.
If you wish to pay your charges by one of these payment methods and require further information, please contact our Customer Accounts Team via your online portal or call us on 01592 630922.
Tenancy Sustainment Service
The Kingdom Group has a Tenancy Sustainment Service, with a team of dedicated workers who can provide advice, guidance and support.
Money Advice & Benefits
You may no longer be working, have less hours, be self-isolating, or caring for another person. If your income has been impacted by the CoronaVirus (Covid 19), you could be eligible for support through Government sick pay or benefits. You can use our new benefit and budgeting calculator to look at what support you are entitled to. Visit the link below for more information, where you can also find out more about more about the financial support available through the benefit system:
https://www.kingdomhousing.org.uk/benefit-calculator/
Our Money Advice/Arrears Officers can check you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to and provide support with any money issues you are experiencing.
The Government has already started providing additional financial support to employees and the self employed.
The CoronaVirus Job Retention Scheme will provide grants to businesses, covering 80% of employees wages (up to £2,500 a month per employee). It means that you can get 80% of your pay, even if there is no work, reduced work or if you need to care for a dependent.
If you are self-employed you may qualify for support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. How much you get will depend on your last three years of profit (or less if your self-employment is less than 3 years) and will be worth 80% of your average profit up to a limit of £2500 a month.
Rules apply to who may be eligible for Government support. For more information please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Knowing what help you are eligible for can be confusing. If you need to talk anything over or if you need a hand to apply, get in touch.
Support when you need it most
It’s not just welfare benefits and money advice we provide. Our Tenancy Sustainment Workers offer support to customers who are vulnerable, at risk or in crisis.
We know what a difficult and worrying time this is. Our Tenancy Sustainment Team are available to provide emotional and practical support to those needing help and reassurance.
We can work with you to put a support plan in place and in the absence of home visiting, we are well equipped to conduct regular appointments by phone or video.
Working with you at times of crisis, the team can access support from health, social care or other organisations, to ensure that those most at risk get the help they need.
If you are struggling for any reason, get in touch.
Energy Assistance
As we are all spending more time at home, it is also important to know what advice and support is out there for tenants to access in relation to their Gas and Electricity supplies. People’s circumstances may change but the need to maintain their supply of electricity & gas won’t.
The good news is the government and suppliers have reached an agreement to ensure that no-one is cut off from supply during these difficult and challenging times. That being said, utilities still cost money and charges will apply for their use. Below are links to the Big 6 suppliers in the UK. These links give you access to the support on offer from each of these companies and answers to the most frequently asked questions. There is also a link to Utilitas response to the current pandemic as this is the supplier of choice for a large number of Kingdom tenants. If your supplier is not there then a simple google search for their website will lead you to that companies COVID-19 response page. For any other enquiry you can e-mail our Energy Adviser directly at dereksmith@kha.scot
Scottish Power – https://community.scottishpower.co.uk/t5/Extra-Help/Coronavirus-COVID-19-information-for-ScottishPower-customers/ta-p/15029
E-On – https://www.eonenergy.com/coronavirus-update.html
British Gas – https://www.britishgas.co.uk/covid19
N Power – https://www.npower.com/help-and-support/coronavirus/
SSE – https://sse.co.uk/home
EDF Energy – https://www.edfenergy.com/coronavirus-advice
Utilita – https://utilita.co.uk/help/covid-19