Wheatley helps 1000 customers in Dumfries and Galloway claim more than £2m in benefits 

Wheatley Homes South’s advice team supported over 1100 customers to get benefits they were entitled to but not claiming.

Shaun Fergusson from Kelloholm is one of the tenants to receive support from Wheatley’s benefits advisors.

He was helped to apply for the carer element of Universal Credit and Discretionary Housing Payment for their spare bedroom.

Shaun said: “The help we received from Wheatley was brilliant. My advisor Fiona was incredibly knowledgeable. She helped us through the process of applying and we heard back from our claim in a couple of weeks.

“The extra income has made a big difference and will be a great help towards our bills.

“I knew nothing about these benefits. I would encourage tenants of Wheatley Homes South to speak to the advisors. If you don’t ask then you don’t know what you could be eligible for.”

Alex Lamb, Managing Director of Wheatley Homes South, said: “We’re doing all we can to support our tenants in these difficult times.

“Welfare benefits are incredibly important to many people on low incomes, and we want to help tenants claim benefits they are entitled to.

“The service is available to all of our tenants, and I would encourage any Wheatley tenant who is struggling to contact us. We are here to help.”

Across Wheatley Group, the welfare benefits team helped 8652 customers claim almost £18.5 million in unclaimed benefits, including accessing Universal Credit, between August 2023 and August this year.

Tenants of Wheatley Homes South who want to book an appointment with a welfare benefits advisor should speak to their housing officer by calling 0800 011 3447.