Since its 2011 establishment, social enterprise IncomeMax has worked with EDF to help support low income and vulnerable people in better managing their finances, and in just a decade has helped those in need access £11 million in unclaimed benefits to boost their income.
Within that £11 million total, in excess of £1 million has come in the previous 12 months, with the partnership helping almost 5,000 households against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze.
The partnership’s assistance has helped each service user, on average, increase their yearly income by £4,000 when backdated payments are factored in.
When EDF identifies vulnerable customers who may be struggling with payments, they are referred to IncomeMax who provide a full assessment of that customer’s finances and personal circumstances, before offering one-to-one support and helping them claim benefits that they are entitled to but may not have been aware of.
Beginning by helping support people that were eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, the collaboration has expanded to cater for wider benefit entitlement checks, including charitable grants, help with energy and water bills, discretionary support grants, adjusted benefit claims & checks and saving money on household bills.
The support of IncomeMax and EDF has helped 64.21 per cent of customers surveyed be able to afford to pay their energy bills.
Christopher Dalley, EDF’s director of back office operations, commented: “We’re really proud that our partnership with IncomeMax has found millions of pounds of additional income for our most vulnerable customers. We’re doing all we can do to help our customers at the moment and the service IncomeMax provides to our customers can be life changing.
“In the current climate, our partnership is even more important and we look forward to continuing working with IncomeMax to help many more of our customers find income they’re missing out on.”
IncomeMax founder and CEO, Lee Healey, added: “We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our amazing corporate partners such as EDF. It is thanks to them that we’re able to help so many people who struggle to navigate the benefits system and are unaware of the income they are missing out on. I’m really proud to have reached this amazing milestone with them and look forward to continuing to steady the financial ship for many more vulnerable customers in the years to come.”
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
