LOOMING benefit changes could leave people without enough money for food, according to support groups.
From next month, changes to the benefits system – including housing benefit and the introduction of a benefit cap – could see many claimants relying on food handouts.
Staff at the Job Centre in Redhill are collecting details for services such as the Merstham foodbank, which can offer free food to families caught short by the changes.
In Merstham itself, concerned community groups are running a week of advice sessions amid fears some families are not prepared for the cuts.
"It is definitely a concern," said Duane Kirkland, manager of the Red Oak Children's Centre, which offers advice and support to young families.
"It is vital to raise awareness of the coming changes.
"People are coming in petrified that there will be no money. Change generally means a reduction and that is what people are concerned about."
As the week of events kicked off in Merstham's Portland Drive on Monday, 14 people came to find out what the changes will mean to them.
"In some cases it is the first people have heard of it," said Tracey Burrows, of the Merstham Community Facility.
"They are going to be paying council tax and bedroom tax and I don't know if people are fully aware of what it will mean for them.
"This affects the most vulnerable people who, often, are the least likely to know what is going on."
Mrs Burrows expressed her shock on Twitter when Job Centre staff asked for the details of Merstham's foodbank to give to families left in need by the changes.
She posted: "Job Centre just called to find out about food bank so they can send people here when they stop their benefits – I could cry."
With benefit payments changing from weekly to monthly and being paid in arrears, Mr Kirkland and others fear families could have no money for three weeks.
Other changes, such as benefits being managed online, could create further problems.
Keith Panton of Merstham's Portland Cafe, which offers residents the use of its in-house computers, said: "Pensioners and people who haven't used a computer are going to have to do this online.
"It is the poorest people who will need computer access to get their money." Father of one Mark Stevens, 56, has lived on benefits for 20 years and is prepared for the tough changes to come. But Mr Stevens, who lives in Dundrey Crescent, Merstham, is concerned others will be taken by surprise. "It will be hard," he told the Mirror. "It's going to be very grim. There won't be enough cash to go around for some people and some families. "The 'bedroom tax' is going to hit more people, and hit them hard. "But it's not just me; the wider family will be affected in very difficult times. "I need to check my daughter knows what this means, otherwise I'll need to help them. "I understand they need to make savings but people are going to be left in a difficult position." As of April, the following changes will affect benefits: Benefit cap The amount of benefits a working-age household can receive will be capped at the level of the average earnings of a working family. Benefits and tax credit rates Most benefit rates will only increase by 1 per cent each April until 2015. Council tax benefit Council tax benefit is to be replaced by localised support set by the local authority. This will only affect people of working age who currently receive council tax benefit. Disability living allowance (DLA) The Government will replace the DLA with personal independence payment (PIP) for people of working age, which will involve new assessments to decide eligibility. The stated intention is to target support on those most in need, and the Government is hoping for a 20 per cent reduction in expenditure by 2017. Housing benefit People living in social housing will have their benefits cut if they are living in a property with more bedrooms than occupants. Social fund Crisis loans and community care grants will be abolished and could be replaced by support from the local authority. Tax credits Any rise in income of £5,000 or more during the award year will be taken into account when finalising a person's tax credit award. Appeals process The Department for Work and Pensions is revising its appeals process to make sure fewer go to court. One of the biggest changes to benefits come April will be the creation of the Universal Credit, which will replace a number of individual benefits. The monthly payment, which will be paid directly into a claimant's bank account, will replace income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, child tax credits, working tax credits and housing benefit. According to the government, the single payment will simplify the benefits system, improve work incentives and cut back on fraud and error.
