Members experiencing financial and emotional difficulties can contact our welfare charity, There for You, which provides a confidential advice and support service for members and their dependants.
Get help with winter fuel bills
Members living on a low income constantly struggle to make ends meet – and this can be particularly acute in the winter when the cost of heating homes rises as the outside temperature falls.
But it’s not all bad news – help IS available. The union’s welfare charity There for You has once more set up a limited fund to help members on low incomes towards the cost of their winter fuel bill through a one-off payment of £60.
The process is very similar to previous years and an amount of money has been ring-fenced to support this initiative. However, once it’s gone it’s gone!
So don’t miss out. Apply early and send your form and supporting paperwork in as soon as possible. All the information you need can be found below. Alternatively, contact UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857 for a form to be sent to you.
Just one more thing: please don’t keep details of this grant a secret. Help us to help even more members and let your work colleagues know that help is at hand. There will be many, like you, worrying about how they will cope this winter.
Completed applications need to be sent to There for You, (WFG) UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY by Friday 15 February 2019 at the latest.
Winter Fuel Grant application form
Financial assistance
If you are a member and you are experiencing financial difficulties, whatever the circumstances, There for You can offer you support.
Tax credits and universal credit
Make sure you don’t miss out when Universal Credit comes to your area – use our Tax Credits (Take Up) Calculator and find out how much you are entitled to claim before time runs out.
Wellbeing breaks
Wellbeing breaks can provide welcome relief from stress and respite from difficult circumstances. We can help you towards the costs of a break, depending on your financial situation.
General advice
There for You provides a confidential service for members over the phone or in person if you are experiencing personal difficulties.
Debtline support
UNISON’s Debtline service is available to all UNISON members to help them manage money and deal with debt. We offer free confidential advice to help you clear your debts.
Support There for You
There for You relies on the help and support of volunteers like you to give vital assistance to people in need in the form of debt advice, listening and support, financial assistance, breaks and holidays, and personal advice.
National Seminar 27 -29 September 2018 Croyde Bay Registration now open
Credit unions
There for You Credit Union Service offers UNISON members access to low interest loans and a range of savings products through our UK network of partner credit unions.
Welfare reform
Significant changes are being made to the welfare system. These will eventually lead to many means-tested benefits being abolished and replaced by the universal credit. The government has also introduced a cap on the total amount of benefit that claimants can receive.
Worried about money?
If you’re worried about money you can talk to an adviser at UNISON Debtline on 0800 389 3302. Lines are open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 3pm on Saturday.
