Islington Water Debt Advice Project
The Islington Water Debt Advice Project is being promoted by IPR, following further 2 year funding from July 2023, from the Thames Water Trust Fund. It was first launched in April 2018, with funding from this Trust Fund. This project offers a specialist debt advice and casework service, delivered by an experienced caseworker to Islington residents. The focus is on those with water debts, but the service can assist with other debts, notably utility debts. The project also helps people in debt to maximise their income and better manage their debt. It also helps them to develop sustainable repayment plans and correctly prioritise debts. The project encourages individuals to better understand budgeting and how to manage their money effectively. It also promotes the Thames Water Priority Service Register and the various schemes that the water company has set up to assist clients who are struggling to pay their water bills, and with their financial situation more generally. Read more…
IPR Justice
IPR is delivering the new IPR Justice project, from 1 st April 2021. Based on over 50 years’ experience of delivering strong outcomes for those living in poverty, this new initiative is designed to influence policy and practice on welfare rights, as well as to provide additional capacity to represent clients at Welfare benefits tribunals. The focus of the project is those with disabilities, notably mental health related. Read more…
IPR KidsSupport
Many families with children with disabilities or long term health conditions have financial difficulties, and do not access their full entitlement of benefits. Often they get in debt as they have little time or knowledge to negotiate the bureaucracy. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) remains for children under the age of 16, but it is a complicated application process needing an appeal if turned down. Read more…
IPR Care
IPR Care assists people caring for relatives and others with dementia and physical disabilities, by providing welfare benefits and debt advice. Carers perform an essential unpaid role for thousands of people, often 24 hours a day. The nature of the role means that they often have little time to devote to dealing with complexities around benefits entitlements. Carers UK reported that 40% of carers are in debt and the proportion of carers unable to afford their utility bills more than doubled in 2022. 35% report that they are cutting back on food and heating, and 8% of carers are using food banks to cope with the cost of living crisis.
IPR works with Islington Carers Hub, and other organisations locally that work with carers in the borough. No other organisation in Islington runs such a bespoke service, delivering specialist advice around benefits and debt to carers. Many of the carers we help miss out on Carer’s Allowance, because they do not realise they are entitled to it, by which time they may have serious debts. Our essential service means both carers, and those they care for, can access the specialist advice they need.
IPR Care relies entirely on grants from trusts, individual supporters and others, and currently lacks significant funding.
Disability Focus
Are you an Islington Resident and do you need help with your disability-related benefits, such as Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)? If so, we can help!
Disabled people have been some of the hardest hit by Welfare Reform, especially those on housing benefit, sickness and disability benefits, and those with families and children. Read more…
Completed Projects
Please click here to see completed projects.