Welfare Together, a provider of enhanced support for vulnerable individuals in arrears, has forged a partnership with Policy in Practice, a social policy and analytics company, to offer creditors an end-to-end income maximisation service.
The two ‘mission-driven’ organisations have come together to address the need for ensuring that vulnerable customers are supported through the ‘last mile’ of their journey to becoming debt free.
Policy in Practice’s award winning, free and easy-to-use ‘Better Off Calculator’ enables people to check what benefits they are eligible for. It is used by over two million people a year via GOV.UK and Policy in Practice’s network of more than 300 clients, including one in three local authorities, to identify over £1.4 billion in unclaimed support.
Through its work with Welfare Together, Policy in Practice provides lenders, utility providers, local authorities, housing associations and other creditors with follow-up intervention for customers who are eligible for benefits but need help claiming them. Welfare Together supports delivery as part of Policy in Practice’s last mile network.
Rob Johnson, Head of Partnerships, Policy in Practice, says:
“Income maximisation is now front and centre in debt recovery, with organisations seeing the value and regulators recognising its inclusion in customer journeys as good practice. The end-to-end solution we’re now able to offer through our partnership with Welfare Together completes the missing piece of our Better Off Calculator solution and is set to become the industry standard. Not knowing that you’re missing out on £500 a month is one thing but knowing and not being able to apply is arguably worse. This partnership will solve that problem.
“Policy in Practice chose Welfare Together as our ‘last mile’ partner because of the level of expertise and service they offer to the most vulnerable customers, going to any lengths to ensure that they can access the financial and wider support they need.”
Tracey Stone, Founding Director of Welfare Together, adds:
“We are huge advocates Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator but know from first-hand experience that there are customers who, even armed with all the information, can’t follow through to access what they are entitled to. Our one-to-one, empathetic and proactive support helps them with navigating complex systems, completing application forms, and contacting multiple external agencies to complete the journey.
“Our aim is to offer creditors maximum commercial and social return on investment by finding proportionate, fair and sustainable debt resolution outcomes for those who can’t pay, breaking the cycle of financial hardship.”
Since it launched in 2022, Welfare Together has helped individuals save more than £800,000 through access to benefits, exemptions, discounts and financial relief for its local authority and housing clients. It is now geared up for working with other creditors through its partnership with Policy in Practice.