BEN continues to provide health and wellbeing support for automotive people and their family dependants. In response to Covid-19 BEN is aiming to “fast-track access to Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) specifically for individuals who reach out to us for financial or money concerns related to the current Covid-19 situation”.
This will include:
Reviewing personal circumstances
Working with individuals to ascertain their key financial commitments and support short to medium term planning and solutions, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Payment breaks for mortgages/housing providers, lenders
- Payment breaks for ongoing commitments such as council tax and other utility bills
- Local Authority hardship grants
- Supporting access to other charitable support or grants as applicable
Benefits maximisation
Supporting individuals to understand what they may be entitled to, how to access and supporting individuals in accessing this financial support.
Welfare grants
BEN will continue to distribute welfare grants, but they have reduced the threshold of eligibility related to personal savings to ensure that they can support those who are in the greatest financial need.
Following a personal review, welfare grants will be administered on a case by case basis.
Priority will be given to those individuals who are directly impacted by Covid-19 specifically related to inability to work (due to the requirement to socially distance or isolate themselves if in a vulnerable group, through illness, school or childcare closures and company shutdown).
On BEN’s website you can find tips, advice and tools related to:
- Managing money
- Stress, coping strategies and resilience
- Self-care during self-isolation and family isolation
- Home working
Please find more information here
