What We Do
When you sign for the keys to your new Erimus home, you will be offered an appointment with Tandem. In this appointment, one of our friendly advisers will work with you to make sure that you are claiming all the money you are entitled to, even if you are working. We can help with a whole range of other things too, when you have just moved into your new home. Find out more about how Tandem can help when you move into your new home.
Tandem appointments are available to everyone who is an Erimus tenant or leaseholder. You can contact us at any time for help or support.
When you contact Tandem, an adviser will ask a few quick questions before arranging a private appointment with you. The appointment will usually be in your local Erimus Housing Office or at Homechoice on Corporation Road in Middlesbrough town centre.
We want to make it easy for you to get help from Tandem
Please let us know how we can help you. We can visit you at home, or at a different location, if you need us to. All our information is available in other languages, Braille, large print or other formats on request. Tandem can also arrange for a language translator to attend your appointment, if necessary.
Here are some of the things Tandem advisers can assist you with, either over the phone or during an appointment:
For Benefits, we can:
- Help you get Housing Benefit in pay as soon as possible
- Check to see if you could claim any extra benefits, even if you are working
- Assist you to fill in forms and explain the proof you need to provide
- Refer you quickly for specialist Benefits advice, if needed
For debt advice we can:
- Help you to start to take control of your finances
- Work with you and your rent officer to agree an arrears repayment plan which you can manage
- Sometimes, we can make repayment arrangements with your creditors, with your permission
- Sometimes, we may be able to apply for charitable grants to help you clear some debts and get back on track
- Refer you quickly for specialist debt
advice if needed
For budgeting, we can:
- Help you to work out your spending and find ways to make your money go further
- See if we can find you cheaper deals on gas, electricity, furniture or mobile phones
To help you choose the right financial products, we can:
- Explain your options, including home insurance, direct debits, bank accounts or savings accounts
- Let you know how and where to apply, offering support if you need this
To access affordable loans we can:
- Look at your money coming in and money going out, to help you decide if you can afford a loan
- Look at alternatives to borrowing money to help you get the things you need
- Compare different types of loans and the overall costs of each
- Refer you for free, specialist financial advice
- Complete a ‘personal financial profile’ to support an application for a Five Lamps loan.
Working with other organisations, we can help you to get:
- Specislist advice you need as quickly as possible
- Practical money management skills, so you stay in control of your money
- Information on education, training, volunteering or returning to work
- Information about other support groups which may be of interest to you or your family