This guide explains the organisations that are here to help; whatever your concerns.
How to contact us:
Economic Development Service
Cherwell District Council
Bodicote House, Bodicote
Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 4AA
Call 01295 221863 or visit www.cherwell.gov.uk
Checklist
(When leaving your job)
On your last day at work, you should receive your full entitlement to wages plus payment for any outstanding period of notice that you have not worked. You should also receive:
- Accrued holiday pay
- Details of your personal pension arrangements
- Income tax form P45
- References – agreed by your employer
- Redundancy pay (subject to two years' continuous service)
- Letter stating date of redundancy
Money matters
Lump sum payment
If you receive a lump sum, it may include a ‘Payment in Lieu of Notice' as well as a redundancy payment. This may affect your benefit entitlement. You need to think carefully about how you use a lump sum. If you have to claim benefits in the future, the Department for Work & Pensions may need to know how you spent it.
Department for Work & Pensions www.dwp.gov.uk
Maintenance/child support
If you are paying maintenance / child support through the Child Support Agency, you should ask for a re-assessment because your income has dropped. If you are paying through any other arrangement that you have made on your own, you may wish to re-negotiate.
Child Support Agency Tel: 08457 133133 www.csa.gov.uk
Protecting your pension rights
If you have been paying into a company pension, make sure you find out about your accrued rights. Advice on pensions can be obtained from The Pensions Advisory Service.
Similarly it is advisable that you speak to someone in the Pensions Section of your Company. Do not take any action without further advice.
The Pensions Advisory Service Tel: 0845 601 2923 www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk
Rights
Redundancy payment and employment rights
If you have been made redundant seek advice as soon as possible from your employer, union or one of the agencies detailed within this leaflet as you may be legally entitled to redundancy payments and pay in lieu of notice.
For details of current rates, check with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Tel: 0845 145 0004 (Redundancy Payments Helpline) or visit www.berr.gov.uk
Help and advice
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
CAB provides free independent, confidential and impartial advice on your rights and responsibilities. You can gain a wide range of support; including working out which bills you should pay first, helping you to fill in benefit forms and legal advice. Common enquiries include debt, fuel and housing costs, benefit claims and overpayments, employment rights, housing requirements, consumer rights and relationship problems.
Citizens Advice Bureau:
Banbury: Cornhill House 26 Cornhill BANBURY OX16 5NG. Tel: 0844 848 7922
(Open 10am - 4pm every weekday, except Tuesday 10am - 1pm)
www.banburycab.org
Bicester: The Garth, Launton Road, BICESTER OX26 6PS. Tel: 01869 321806
(Open 10am-1pm Mon, Wed & Fri. Closed Tues & Thurs).
Or visit the CAB online advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk
Housing
Cherwell District Council’s Housing Options service offers advice and assistance for individuals, families and landlords.
You can gain help and advice on housing issues such as:
- avoiding homelessness
- managing difficulties with rent or mortgage
- housing options
- getting private rented accommodation
The Housing Service works closely with the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide help with urgent housing problems and supports the CAB advice service at Banbury County Court.
For more information: Tel: 01295 221809 or email housing@cherwell.gov.uk. A home visit can be arranged if appropriate. Website www.cherwell.gov.uk.
Rent and Council Tax
Cherwell District Council's Benefits service helps people on a low income, by making payments towards their rent and council tax costs. If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax, please contact us immediately on 01295 227000 to see if we can help you.
The amount of benefit you can get is based on your income and family circumstances. You will need to supply evidence of your income, household and rent costs. Any savings you have will also be taken into account. If you have more than £16,000 in savings you will probably not be eligible to claim.
Tel: 01295 227022 or visit www.cherwell.gov.uk.
For housing, rent or Council Tax enquiries call into a Cherwell District Council ‘One Stop Shop’ at:
- Banbury – Castle Quay
- Bodicote – Bodicote House
- Bicester – 38 Market Square
- Kidlington – Exeter Hall
All are open Monday to Friday 8.45* - 17.15 (* from 10.00am every Wednesday)
It is very important that if you are worried about keeping your home, or having difficulty paying your rent, mortgage or Council Tax, that you contact us as soon as possible.
Finding another job
Job Centre Plus
Providing you with:
- information about alternative jobs and known vacancies
- help to write a CV
- help with your job search skills
- general information about benefits and making claims
Jobcentre Plus - Banbury Crown Buildings, Southam Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 2EX
Tel: 01295 455000. Visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
nextstep
nextstep helps people facing redundancy to prepare for applying for a new job. This could be a similar job or a complete career change. Help includes practical things like preparing good CVs or job applications, coaching to prepare for job interviews or help finding courses to help you to retrain.
nextstep:Tel: 0800 1954 700 (freephone) or visit www.nextstepsoutheast.org.uk.
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College offers help to companies who would like to provide staff development opportunities for workers facing redundancy. The college can offer short training sessions on updating your CV, job application writing and interviewing skills. The college can also offer English language courses (ESOL) for migrant workers.
Tel: 01865 551015
Setting up your own business
Oxfordshire Business Enterprises
Oxfordshire Business Enterprises (OBE) can provide you with an experienced business advisor to provide free advice on all aspects of starting and running your own business. Support is available as early as when you are thinking of starting, through the start-up phase and/or during the first few years of operation. OBE can help you, for example, to look at:
- Your initial ideas and check their viability
- What type of company to set up (i.e. limited company, sole trader, etc.)
- Preparation or review of your business plan
- Pricing
- Market research and marketing
- Matters specific to your business
- Establishing an action plan
A one-to-one meeting can be arranged for you at a local venue - such as Banbury, Bicester or Oxford.
Oxfordshire Business Enterprises: Tel: 01295 227082.
http://www.oxonbe.co.uk
Business Link
Business Link is the Government funded organisation helping businesses. Whether you're starting up in business for the first time, already running a business, or looking to grow and develop, Business Link can offer free help to:
- Manage your finances
- Employ people
- Find and keep customers
- Pay the correct tax
- Comply with environmental legislation
- Trade internationally
- Understand regulations in your sector
- Find events and support near you
Business Link runs free workshops for people thinking about setting up a business or working for themselves. Topics covered include the pros and cons of running a business, business planning, finance, sales and marketing.
Business Link:Tel: 0845 600 9006, email info@businesslinksolutions.co.uk or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast.