AN elderly couple from the North Tyne can enjoy their retirement in peace after receiving financial advice from their landlord which has saved them hundreds of pounds each year.

Dennis and Margaret Crowe live in an Isos bungalow and, struggling to afford their household bills, they sought advice from Isos financial inclusion officer Phil Soden.

Phil saw the Crowes’ energy bills were unusually high and found they were on the wrong tariff.

He also helped Mr Crowe apply for Attendance Allowance, a benefit for older people with health problems who are finding it difficult getting round the house.

As a former member of the armed forces, Mr Crowe was also eligible for a grant from armed forces charity, SSAFA.

The grant enabled him to pay off the debt he had taken on to pay for a special armchair for wife Margaret, who has problems with her mobility.

Phil said: “When I first went to speak with the Crowes, I think it is fair to say Dennis was ignoring his own problems because he was concentrating on his wife.

“He was having problems with his energy, paying £150 a month which seemed a lot for two people. We found he was on the wrong tariff and called the energy company to get it resolved.

“I called the SSAFA who agreed to take on the debt for the chair.”

The Crowes got £55 of Attendance Allowance that led to some pension credit, and they now pay £97 a month for all the power they use, rather than £150.

The support Phil provided is just one example of the work the Isos financial inclusion team does to help residents across the North-East.

In 2015/16 the eight team members generated a total of £2.6m extra income for Isos residents through benefit entitlements and reducing their energy bills.

Phil added: “We try to visit anybody who needs help. Dennis told me he would never have filled in the Attendance Allowance form on his own.

“For me to be able to come out and see him made a big difference.”

Mr Crowe said: “All I had to do was sign my name and financially there was an improvement straight away.”

Mr Crowe can now relax knowing his finances are under control, with a steady income to take care of his wife.

He added: “I have to see that Margaret gets the best out of life that she possibly can.”

The financial inclusion team at Isos can be contacted on 0300 300 1505, by email benefitsandmoney@isoshousing.co.uk or through the website www.isoshousing.co.uk and click ‘Support’.