Q         Do you give Financial Advice?
A         No, financial advice on investments and tax planning does not form part of macs-plus core work. You could be referred to a registered financial advisor, and a joint home visit could be arranged if you are anxious about advice.

Q         So, what exactly is Money Advice then?
A         This is offered in cases where people are in difficulties meeting their commitments, often caused by a sudden drop in income or change in personal or family circumstances.  People are anxious to repay their debts but may not know how to deal effectively with creditors.  As people are threatened with Court Action, Eviction or Disconnection of services, they are inclined to panic, and pay the most forceful and vociferous creditor.  This may not be wise.

Money Advice looks at ways of improving income and getting expenditure under control, encouraging savings in expenditure wherever possible.  Money Advice work largely involves negotiating with primary creditors to agree debt repayments within a realistic budget.

At the moment, macs-plus does not take on this type of work in isolation of other work, as Money Advice is available free-of-charge from Citizens Advice or through telephone help-lines.

Q         And what is Money Management?
A         This is a way of relieving people of the anxiety of living from one crisis to another.  This could be a short-term service to sort out financial affairs because you are moving into residential care or on behalf of relatives on death.

Alternatively, this could be a longer-term service; for instance, to administer Direct Payments.  These are cash payments given by social services departments to people who have been assessed as needing services.  At present these payments can be given to disabled people aged 16 or over, to people with parental responsibility for disabled children, and to carers aged 16 or over (in respect of carer services).

Q         And Money Handling?
A         The money handling element of the enterprise is its unique feature and is offered in such a way as to avoid undermining the independence of the people we help.  For example, our aim is for John is that he manages his own finances when he feels the time is right. 

Money Handling involves taking responsibility for a client's money and paying bills, paying creditors, making investments, and giving people access to the balance in cash, possibly through a weekly home visiting service.

 
Q         What are Direct Payments?
A         These are cash payments given by social services departments to people who have been assessed as needing services.  They are designed to give more flexibility in how services are provided and offer people greater choice and control over their lives. This would enable you to make your own decisions about how your care is delivered.  macs-plus can assist if mobility or personal experience are limited.  Not all the money made available by Direct Payments need to be spent on care - you might prefer to spend the money on education, training or sporting facilities linked to health.

The Direct Payments Direct website provides information and advice on direct payments for people with physical or learning disabilities, sensory impairments, mental health issues, and their carers. The site was developed by Brighton and Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Federation of Disabled People and the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove. If you decide to use the direct payments scheme, you will need further assistance from the Direct Payments Advice Service

Q         How would you get my money if I chose Money Handling?
A         MACS is recognised as a corporate appointee by the Benefits Agency of the DWP. This allows macs-plus to receive Social Security benefits and pensions for people who are unable to do this themselves, and macs-plus can act on their behalf. 
            Or it might be convenient to have interest on savings or a personal pension paid direct to your account with macs-plus. These choices would obviously be with your knowledge and consent.

Q         Where would you keep my money?
A         Clients' money is kept in a separate clients' account which is audited by an independent qualified accountant.  Clients can also see a regular copy of a statement of their account, or on request.  macs-plus acts as your 'friendly bank'.

Q          What about my savings and interest?
A         So long as there is sufficient money coming into your account with macs-plus to cover the budgeted payments, there is no need for macs-plus to become involved with other savings, unless you particularly ask us to.
Interest on the macs-plus clients' account is used to off-set the cost of the service and allows us to reduce our charges to clients.  Obviously, as no interest is paid by macs-plus to clients, it is important to ensure that any excess money is invested in a personal savings account to gain the maximum benefit.

Links to useful websites:

MACS - Money Advice & Community Support
Entitled To - free calculators to help you work out your entitlement to benefits & tax credits
AdviceNow - Advicenow is an independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, up-to-date information on rights and legal issues
Trading Standards - East Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards information for consumers with approved traders list
National Debtline - helpline that provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems
Eurolinakge - Age Concern’s national website
Community Legal Service - read free legal information leaflets or legal help fact sheets and search for a high-quality local legal adviser or solicitor

Q         What is a social enterprise?
A         A social enterprise is a business venture that trades with a social aim and purpose, and is designed to directly address a specific social problem and simultaneously make a modest profit.  Well know examples include The Big Issue, Café direct and Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Fifteen.

Q         Is macs-plus a social enterprise?
A         Yes, any profits from the enterprise will be reinvested in MACS for social and local community purposes.  This will allow additional individuals in the community to benefit from our services.  macs-plus has the skills needed to run a  new business successfully; dealing with vulnerable people, keeping clear boundaries, communication skills, debt and welfare benefit expertise, financial accounting, management and supervision procedures etc.

Q         Who are the Directors of macs-plus?
A         Innovators, entrepreneurs and professional managers are all needed during the evolution of an entrepreneurial organisation, but in sequence.  Few people possess more than one of the three sets of skills.  Sue Erlam is currently taking the role of the innovator ; Stephen Silverwood is the lateral thinker and entrepreneur ; Jackie Grigg is a professional manager who will develop and install the necessary infrastructure to secure the future; David Coldwell is the elder statesman, with a life time of past experience in business and commerce, who can steer the company.

Q         How do I know my money will be safe with you?
A         For over twenty years MACS has been working closely with the council's Social Services to provide a service for people they refer.  Working to their very exacting standards and the Legal Services Commission's Quality Mark has ensured that this service has become so successful that there is now a long waiting list. 

Q         How much does it cost?
A         As a not-for-profit organisation macs-plus is committed to keeping charges to a minimum.  Currently the hourly rate has been calculated as £40.  A client is charged by the minute: i.e. only for the time spent on their case. This could amount to a few pence per week or to several hours per month.

Q         What are Direct Payments
A         These are cash payments given by social services departments to people who have been assessed as needing services.  They are designed to give more flexibility in how services are provided and offer people greater choice and control over their lives. This would enable you to make your own decisions about how your care is delivered.  macs-plus can assist if mobility or personal experience are limited.  Not all the money made available by Direct Payments need be spent on care - you might prefer to spend the money on education, training or sporting facilities linked to health.

The Direct Payments Direct website provides information and advice on direct payments for people with physical or learning disabilities, sensory impairments, mental health issues, and their carers. The site was developed by Brighton and Hove City Council, the Brighton & Hove Federation of Disabled People and the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove. If you decide to use the direct payments scheme, you will need further assistance from the Direct Payments Advice Service