URGENT APPEAL TO MEMBERS

STOP PRESS – LATEST ADVISOR NEWSLETTER

PLEASE SHARE THE CONTENT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS

WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK SO PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO advice@iphas.co.uk

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE IPHAS TEAM?

IPHAS ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR SERVICES TO MEMBERS. WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE VACANCIES FOR PEOPLE WITH A FRIENDLY DISPOSITION, SO IF YOU LIKE TO CHAT ON THE TELEPHONE, AND YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SENDING AND RECEIVING EMAILS, THEN WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN THE IPHAS TEAM.

NO SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE OR TRAINING IS INVOLVED, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL YOUR DETAILS TO advice@iphas.co.uk

IAN PYE, CHAIRMAN                                                                                                               15^TH MARCH 2023

IPHAS HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY, AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY, THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE £400 EBSS GRANT DUE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO QUALIFYING PARK HOMEOWNERS BY ALTERNATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS, HAS BEEN POSTPONED YET AGAIN.
WE ARE ADVISED THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS ITSELF WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE ^27th FEBRUAURY 2023.
WE HAVE MADE KNOWN OUR DEEP CONCERN FOR THIS FURTHER DELAY, AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PARK HOME OWNERS ALREADY SUFFERING THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AND DOUBLE DIGIT PITCH FEE INCREASES.
FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED HERE, AS AND WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE
Ian Pye Chairman 26^th January 2023

The application process is subject to a pilot testing programme at the moment. If it is found to be successful, it will be trialled on live data before it’s released for the public to register for their payments. Further information will be posted on our website www.iphas.live as it becomes available.

Ian Pye, Chairman 21st January 2023

THE WARM HOME DISCOUNT SCHEME

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM CHARIS GRANTS

IPHAS (2021) LTD HAVE JUST BEEN NOTIFIED BY CHARIS GRANTS, THAT BECAUSE OF SLOW TAKE UP OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, THE WARM HOME DISCOUNT SCHEME HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE VIA THE CHARIS WEBSITE –

Park Homes | Warm Home Discount Scheme | Charis (charisgrants.com)

CHARIS ADVISE THEY STILL HAVE PLENTY OF AWARDS AVAILABLE HOWEVER, THEY MUST ALL BE MADE BY THE END OF MARCH 2023.

Further information can be obtained from the Business Development Director at Charis Grants charisgrants.com Telephone 07731 022 075

Update 2 – 20th December 2022

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issued a statement on 19 December providing a further update on the £400 discount under the EBSS Alternative Funding (EBSS -AF) and the £200 discount under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP).
On the same day BEIS organised a briefing for a range of stakeholders including park home representatives, to provide additional details about the delivery of the payments.
This document provides a brief summary of the statement and update from the meeting.
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EBSS-Alternative Funding (EBSS-AF)
Online applications will open in January 2023 for households including park home residents who are eligible for the £400 – EBSS AF.

Applicants will need to complete a short online application form via the GOV.UK website. This is the only website where applications can be submitted. There will be no paper applications.

A dedicated customer helpline will be available to assist those who do not have online access. Further details about the helpline will be provided in January.

Once an application has been made, the details will be processed and verified before the payment is made by local authorities.

Local authorities are not responsible for the application or verification process. Residents do not need to contact their local authority now or when the application process opens.

The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant local authority.

Q. What will the process be for claiming the discount?
All eligible households will be required to apply for the payment through the GOV.UK website. They will fill out a short form on GOV.UK with a few simple details, including their name and address.

Once the details have been verified, the payment will be made by the relevant local authority.

Q. Should I contact my local authority now about the EBSS-AF or AFP payments?
NO. Local authorities are not responsible for the application process so will be unable to assist with any queries.

Residents do not need to contact their local authority now or when the application process opens.

Q. How will applicants find out about the eligibility criteria?
More information will be made available in January.

The GOV.UK page will also include an overview of eligibility and what applicants need to do to apply for the support.

Q. When will more information be made available to residents?
More information and details will be made available in January.

Q. How can residents be sure the GOV.UK website is safe to use?
There will be controls in place to ensure the portal is safe for residents to use.

Q. Will the EBSS-AF scheme call residents and ask them to make an application?
NO. The scheme will not call any resident and ask them to make an application.

Residents will have to apply through the GOV.UK website or call the dedicated customer helpline themselves.

Caution – residents should not at any time provide any information to anyone who calls them and claims to be calling from or acting on behalf of the EBSS-AF scheme.

Q. Will residents be required to provide their site owner’s electricity meter number when they make an application?
No. The application form will not ask for or require residents to provide their site owner’s meter number.

Site owners will not be involved in the process.

ALTERNATIVE FUEL PAYMENT (AFP)
The government is providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households who use alternative fuels such as biomass, LPG or heating oil to meet energy costs this winter.

Park home residents who do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, will need to apply for the AFP.

They will be able to do so in February, through the same GOV.UK portal as the one that will be used to apply for support under the EBSS-AF.

Further details will be made available shortly.

PLEASE NOTE:
IPHAS TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOW ENJOYING A WELL EARNED BREAK FOR THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY SUPPORT RELIEF RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS WILL BE POSTED ON THE IPHAS WEBSITE www.iphas.live

Update – December 2022

The government has already announced that it will provide a £400 discount to park home residents to help with their energy bills.

Details of the discount and other ways in which park home residents will be supported were made available in the November guidance.

This document provides a brief update on the delivery of the payment.

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How will the payment be delivered?

• The government has worked through a number of alternative delivery options and has concluded that the best way to deliver the scheme is through Local Authorities, who are best placed to process applications and carry out verification checks.

What is the process for claiming the money?

• All eligible households will be required to apply for the payment. They will be able to fill out a short form on GOV.UK with a few simple details, including their name and address. Much of this data will be verified up-front to reduce burdens on Local Authorities, who will then verify the address and administer the payment.

When can households apply ?

• The government is currently finishing and testing the application model, including verification and anti-fraud measures, to ensure that it functions as intended before it can go live.

• The scheme will open for applications in January 2023, and the government is committed to delivering the payment to households this winter.

• The government will be publishing further detail about eligibility shortly.

Why is this taking so long?

• This is a critical and complex task.

• Whilst the government understands that speed is of the essence, it must do all it can to prevent errors that could result either in households not receiving the support they need, or in a loss of public money.

When will households get the money?

• The Alternative Fuel Payment of £200 and the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative funding of £400 will be delivered as soon as possible in the new year.

• The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant Local Authority.

NON-ENERGY SCHEMES:

£650 Cost of Living payment for those on benefits

• More than 8 million households on means tested benefits will receive a payment of £650. This includes all households who receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit.

• The Department of Work and Pensions will make the payment in two lump sums – the first from July, the second in the autumn. Payments from HMRC for those on Tax Credits only will follow shortly after each to ensure there are no duplicate payments. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.

£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment

• All pensioner households will receive an extra £300 to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter. Pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to.

• This payment will go to the over 8 million pensioner households who receive the Winter Fuel Payment. The Pensioner Cost of Living Payment will come as a top-up to annual Winter Fuel Payments in November/December. For most pensioner households, this will be paid by direct debit, is not taxable and does not affect eligibility for other benefits. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.

£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment

• People with disabilities will receive an extra £150 to help with the particular extra costs they face. Six million people who receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Scottish Disability Benefits, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance and War Pension Mobility Supplement will receive the support as a one off payment in September.

• These payments will be exempt from tax, will not count towards the benefit cap, and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.

Dear fellow Members,

You will no doubt be aware from earlier posts on the subject, that IPHAS is in dialogue with AGE UK, seeking clarity on how the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), is to be delivered to your good selves, particularly those who do not have a direct supply contract with an energy supply company. This has come into sharper relief with the resignation of the Prime Minister, and the ensuing Tory Leadership elections. Those of you who have witnessed such contests in the past, will realize that we are unlikely to see a speedy outcome. What does this matter? It matters because until a new Government is in place, and new Departmental heads are appointed, the work of Government may slow down.

However, we have just been passed the following information, provided to AGE UK by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in relation to park homes and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme.

• Having investigated park home residents missing out on the EBSS, the BEIS are proposing a local council discretionary fund using section 31 grants or using the Warm Home Discount Park home industry initiative, as a way of delivering the £400 to park home residents. BEIS are in dialogue with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who they say are already in touch with park home resident associations.
• BEIS intend to provide charities with further guidance on the EBSS in August and September, so we should hopefully get further details by the end of the summer.
• Less reassuring is the following statement from BEIS, who are keen to stress that despite the current disruption in government, the EBSS is very unlikely to be shelved and the minister for BEIS, Kwasi Kwarteng, remains in place. There may however be delays in turnarounds on decisions because of ongoing instability.

IPHAS will continue to work with AGE UK and BEIS, to press for a speedy resolution to the issue of fair distribution of the £400 EBSS grant to all park home residents, this autumn.

IAN PYE, Chairman                                                                                    11^TH July 2022

IPHAS (2021) LTD.

INTRODUCTION

Dear Fellow Members,

I am delighted to introduce our new user-friendly website! We see this new, contemporary version as being YOUR website and as such, is very much a work in progress. We are keen for you to have ready access to the latest Posts, so please let us have your suggestions for the sort of information you would like us to cover. Further detail about the ongoing development of the website is posted separately.

Thank you all for your continued support of IPHAS during our period of transition.

Ian Pye, CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT PARK HOME ADVISORY SERVICE (2021) LTD.

NEW MEMBERSHIP DATABASE AND PAYMENT GATEWAY

A new, easy to access ‘PAYMENT GATEWAY’ is currently in development and once complete, will undergo a period of testing prior to being made available for members use. As a MEMBERSHIP NUMBER will be required to access the Payment Gateway, we are creating a simple SEARCH FACILITY to aid those who have forgotten their MEMBERSHIP NUMBER, which can be identified through LINKS to our new MEMBERSHIP DATABASE, which is due to be available sometime in APRIL. Members can continue to pay their subscription by STANDING ORDER, or BACS, and although we do still accept checks, we must advise you that this is an extremely time consuming and costly method of payment. We are constantly under pressure by our bank, HSBC, to dissuade members from using this method of payment, when a DEBIT CARD payment can be made by telephoning our FREEPHONE MEMBERSHIP NUMBER – 0800 612 6273.

FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATIONFOR ALL

Anyone will be able to access all our ‘Posts’ which we will endeavour to categorize in due course. To simplify the process, we have included a SEARCH facility on the HOME page, which will allow you to locate and research an item of your choice, by inputting a single word enquiry into the SEARCH FIELD. Any information we hold should then be displayed in descending date order, with the latest information being at the top.

IPHAS VOLUNTEERS

As you will be aware, IPHAS is an entirely voluntary organisation, our team members all work from home, and only receive ‘expenses’ to cover the costs of their activities. We provide support for INTERNET and LICENCE charges, TELEPHONE, and postal costs, as well as Computer and Printing Equipment and servicing, when required.

RECRUITMENT

WITH OUR NEW IT SERVICES COMING ON STREAM SOON, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF ADVISORY AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO MEMBERS, AND PARK HOME DWELLERS ON MAINLAND UK. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE VERY SHORT OF VOLUNTEERS DURING RECENT LOCKDOWNS, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MANAGED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD.

SO, WHATEVER YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN OF THE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY OUR TEAM MEMBERS, AND THE VARIETY OF ROLES WE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE, TO ASSIST OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Please EMAIL our INFORMATION TEAM AT info@iphas.co.uk or Telephone FREEPHONE MEMBERSHIP NUMBER – 0800 612 6273 AND LEAVE YOUR DETAILS; WE WILL CONTACT YOU AT OUR EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

Ian Pye, CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT PARK HOME ADVISORY SERVICE (2021) L