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We’re committed to maintaining our core services while keeping our residents and staff safe. Read the latest updates on our services.
Below you will find further information about Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and other useful organisations that might be useful.
With people facing loss of income or reduced hours during the pandemic, it's good to know what benefits and support are available to you. You sent in questions and concerns about money matters and our knowledgeable team answered. Watch our Q&A video for top tips, guidance and support.
All of our tenancy agreements and leases require your account to be paid in advance. Advance payments will depend on your frequency of payment - if you pay weekly then you must be a week in advance or if you pay monthly then you must be a month in advance. Some of our customers will have their rent paid by claiming Housing Benefit, which is paid up to four weeks in arrears. In a majority of cases your housing benefit is paid directly to us although in some cases it is paid directly to you.
Finding funds to keep your account in credit may be difficult, and so we encourage you to begin making additional contribution at a minimum of £5 per week to gradually bring your account into credit.
You can set up a direct debit for this payment through MyMoat or contact the Customer Accounts Team who would be happy to discuss all available options
The Government has made some significant changes to the benefits system over the last few years, as part of welfare reform. Universal Credit replaces six different benefits, combining them into one, single monthly payment. Those benefits are:
Customers in receipt of these benefits will be moved to Universal Credit eventually. It will be paid monthly in arrears to the customer from the start of the claim, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. If the payment includes an amount for housing, you’ll need to arrange for your rent to be paid to us. For more detailed information about Universal Credit, download this PDF on the government website.
We have a team of experienced staff ready to help and give guidance if you are affected by Universal Credit or simply want some more information. You can email financialwellbeing@moat.co.uk or give us a call. Watch this video on how to make a claim for Universal Credit.
There are other organisations that can help you, and we've included some links below to some expert websites that you can contact to discuss your benefits or general financial wellbeing:
Credit unions are a great way for people to save and borrow money safely. These are particularly helpful for those who have struggled to obtain bank accounts. To find your nearest credit union, visit findyourcreditunion.co.uk now.
Apprentices at Moat need to be over 16 years of age, and there’s no upper age limit. You’ll need an English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent) at grade C/4 or above.
An apprenticeship offers an alternative path to a career, and some apprentice qualifications are at the same level or equivalent to degrees. As an apprentice, you get the added benefit of experience and you don’t have to pay tuition fees. Our apprentices complete a structured training programme covering a number of core work skills, including customer service, meeting skills, communication skills, diversity and inclusion, data protection and much more.
No - as a Moat apprentice, you’ll get to carry out a full role with real responsibilities. Whatever you do, you will be given lots of support and guidance and you’ll always be working with others so you’re not alone.
It depends on the qualification that you do but most apprenticeships don’t need you to sit exams. Some apprentices attend college one day a week, others attend occasional workshops with tutors, and some are visited regularly in the workplace by an assessor who sets work for them.
Read the job description to make sure you meet our essential criteria. If you do, submit your CV and application, making sure you demonstrate how you meet these requirements. We’ll review all applications against objective criteria and create a shortlist of candidates to interview.
We don’t expect you to be an expert in housing as you’ll be joining us to learn. The interview is a chance for us to get to know you a bit better. We’re interested in why you want to be an apprentice and what you can offer Moat. We’ll try to keep it relaxed - former apprentices tell us it felt like a chat rather than an interrogation!
We can’t guarantee you a job at Moat, but we’ll help you with job applications and interview skills before the end of your apprenticeship to boost your chances of securing a job. We’re keen to develop our people so we advertise vacancies internally first, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply.
Moat’s apprentices are paid an annual salary of £15,500 which is more than the National Minimum Apprentice wage. Apprentices can also access the full range of benefits available to all Moat staff.
Although we're a Housing Association, we have a number of job roles that you'd see in other sectors, including Finance, IT, HR, Admin, Communications and more. You don't need housing knowledge for these and while you may stay in housing afterwards, these apprenticeships offer transferrable skills that can be used outside the sector too.