120,000 residents invited to take part in national survey on managing finances

Published by Hywel LLoyd for Merlin Housing Society in Housing and also in Bill Payments, Communities

A specialist money management magazine and a leading benefits charity have teamed up to send a financial survey to 120,000 housing association properties across the country.

Quids In! magazine and Turn2us have joined forces to better understand the money issues facing social housing residents.

The survey was developed in association with Merlin Housing Society’s Financial Inclusion Team and piloted in that organisation’s  8,200 properties earlier this year.

Findings there revealed that 81% of respondents were concerned about changes to their benefit and pensions and that 62% had struggled at some point to keep up with bill or debt payments.

The National Housing Federation agree the survey is important and are encouraging their members to consider the results when they come through.

Jane Greenoak, Senior Advisor for Funding and Partnerships at the National Housing Federation said: “Research like this is invaluable for local service providers and national policy makers alike.

“In the current economic climate, things are only going to get tougher for social housing residents.

“This needs to be recognised at every level so that we can stop issues becoming real problems that result in misery for people who are already economically vulnerable.”

The survey, which will be sent out in December, will try to understand issues around managing money and also things like how worries about financial circumstances have affected people’s health or relationships, or how people would replace a large household item if it broke down.

Results are expected to be available in March 2012.