Cost of Living Crisis: The Impact of our Research
Our research was some of the first to show that the Cost of Living crisis was having an impact on Hertfordshire residents not just financially, but also in terms of their physical and mental health.
Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust (HPFT), which provides local mental health services, and the Council’s Money Advice Unit responded by developing a joint initiative to co-locate Money Advice staff within HPFT’s Enhanced Primary Mental Health Care service.
The service, which has been running since June 2023, has enabled those accessing mental health services to also get help and support for financial and other Cost of Living related issues.
The video below explains the project in more detail.
Why is this important?
Financial issues often cause or contribute to mental ill health, so access to early help is vital to prevent problems from escalating. The service also signposts to organisations that can help with benefits, housing and other financial matters.
Since the partnership began, the mental health service has made 317 referrals to the Money Advice Unit. Help with benefit payments has been just one aspect of the assistance provided and has resulted in weekly benefit gains of £9094 (£472,888 per year) so far. There has also been an additional £75,766 in ‘one-off’ payments and arrears of benefits.
The team’s work, in such a short space of time, has been invaluable and a recent survey provided excellent feedback from service users and staff.
“I couldn't have asked for a better service. (The team) has made my life so much easier by taking away the stress and anxiety of taking on the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP). This has made a huge difference to my mental health.”
A wider Mental Health Cost of Living Response Group has also brought together local partners to focus on:
- Ensuring that people with existing mental illness can access the advice and support they need in relation to cost of living problems and ensure they are safeguarded from abuse and neglect.
- Promoting the mental and emotion wellbeing of the population to prevent mental health problems related to the stress and anxiety brought about by the current cost of living pressures.
If you need help or advice, you can visit Looking after your mental health and wellbeing (hpft.nhs.uk)
Case study “Paul” – August 2023
Paul’s situation
Paul is under the care of HPFT receiving treatment and support for depression and stress. He is homeless and only has somewhere to stay for one night at a time. He is underweight and has gastro-intestinal issues. He struggles (and often fails) to collect medication from the pharmacist because he is preoccupied with finding somewhere to stay. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) see Paul as fit for work. He missed appointments at the job centre because the notifications went to the email account on his mobile which had no charge or credit. This led to his benefit being stopped.
Intervention and impact
The first assistance the Money Advice Unit organised was an £80 supermarket voucher for food, so he could use his benefits to pay his phone bill. Unfortunately it was too late, so a second benefit sanction was applied.
The adviser helped Paul to challenge the sanction and get medical evidence to show that he was unfit for work. Meanwhile, the DWP was chased to make a hardship payment. A foodbank voucher, hygiene products and help with his application for housing were all provided.
A month after challenging the first sanction, the DWP overturned both sanctions and reimbursed Paul £690 in unpaid Universal Credit. This meant he has paid off his overdue phone bill, so he will know when he has job centre appointments.
Work continues with Paul to show the DWP that he is currently unfit for work. This could lead to extra benefit, which would remain partially in place if he returns to work. With his income restored and stable, he has the option to pay for a bed in a hostel. This frees up time for him to collect prescriptions, eat more healthily and make efforts to find more stable accommodation.
