The recent fires around Adelaide in November and the start of the fire season have highlighted the special needs for families affected by such emergencies.
South Australians who are affected by fire or unexpected life events can use the Affordable SA App to easily connect with the services and support they may need. If you know of families involved in such incidents please suggest the following:
The Affordable SA App is free to download. Simply search for Affordable SA and complete the download or contact the Affordable SA Helpline 1800 025 539 for assistance.
During these emergencies the Salvation Army Emergency Service provided food to the volunteers fighting the fire. Read more about the Salvation Army catering volunteers and their stories about preparing and delivering this service. (See attached PDF)
With extremely high levels of household debt at the moment, many Australians are currently struggling to keep up with their repayments.
This runaway debt is catching up to more of us, with the Australian Financial Authority this week revealing that total personal insolvencies increased 0.6 per cent in the September quarter 2015 compared to September quarter 2014.
This was a second consecutive rise, with personal insolvencies in June quarter 2015 rising 0.9 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.
The new statistics also revealed that the number of debt agreements in the September quarter increased by 2.4 per cent compared to last year while bankruptcies fell by 0.1 per cent and personal insolvency agreements fell 33.3 per cent.
With this rise in the number of insolvencies and debt agreements, it’s likely that many Australians have sought out the services of debt solution companies. In desperate times of overwhelming debt, the advertised promises of these firms to “solve all of your finance problems” can be quite tempting.
But is there a catch?
Let’s take a look at these companies and what they do.
What are debt solution companies?
Debt solution companies are firms that people pay to manage their personal debt problems. These groups usually offer to do this through:
Debt consolidation and
Debt agreements
Debt consolidation involves repackaging all debts into one loan that may or may not have different fees and interest rates. Companies that offer debt consolidation have to be licensed with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
These groups can also set up debt agreements with creditors on your behalf when you cannot pay everything you owe but want to avoid going bankrupt. For a fee, the debt solution company can act as administrator to organise a debt agreement proposal based on what you can afford to pay. You pay creditors back the settled amount over a set period of time.
Potential dangers
Since debt solution companies are run for profit, sometimes it is worth considering whether they are there to help or to take advantage of people in desperate situations. Their fees can set you back even further and their ‘solutions’ can actually hurt you more.
For instance, the new loan they consolidate your debt into might have a higher interest rate, costs or be longer term. When the loan is longer term, bear in mind that although your repayments and interest rate may be lower, you’re paying more in the long run though fees and interest over the years. Also, if they’re consolidating your unsecured debt (e.g. credit cards) into a secured loan (your mortgage), you could be putting your home on the line. The mortgage might become even harder to pay off, thus putting your home more at risk.
The adverts for these debt solution companies can often downplay these serious consequences. It’s important to put your emotions aside and be rationale when considering signing up with these companies.
Free Financial counselling
As opposed to debt solution companies which strive to generate profits for shareholders, the number one priority of free financial counselling is to help those in need. Financial counselling can offer independent and confidential financial advice to improve your financial situation in a variety of ways. This can include helping you do up a budget, seeing if you’re eligible for government assistance or referring you to other social help services if they recognise a wider problem (e.g. gambling help, drug rehab, mental health counselling).
Financial counsellors can do for free what many businesses might charge you for. Instead of directing you towards the most desperate measures, they can help you to consider everything you can do to manage your debt in the most efficient way possible.
If you need debt help, you can call the financial counselling hotline on 1800 007 007 from 9:30am to 8:00pm, Monday to Thursday & 9:30am - 4:30pm on Fridays.
**Article published at http://www.canstar.com.au/balance-transfers/debt-solution-companies-vs-financial-counsellors/ retrieved 4/11/15****
Minister Zoe Bettison
Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion
News Release Thursday, 2 June, 2015
South Australians can now apply online for new cost of living concession. More than 200,000 eligible South Australian households can now apply online for the State Government’s new cost of living concession of up to $200.
The concession, that replaces the Federal Government’s defunct council rate rebate, has also been expanded to tenants and self-funded retirees with a federal health care card. Communities and Social Inclusion Minister Zoe Bettison said the easy to access payment provides support to South Australians struggling with utility and other costs.
“South Australian pensioners, retirees and low income earners will now receive up to $200 annually through this concession toward cost of living expenses,” Ms Bettison said.
“This payment responds to the Federal Government’s abolition of the $190 council rate concession which left many South Australian families under undue financial pressure.”
Ms Bettison said the new concession also provides greater flexibility for recipients.
“The State Government is putting up to $200 into the hands of South Australians for energy, water or council rate costs – or anything else they need to support themselves and their families.”
Applications can be made online at www.sa.gov.au/concessions/costofliving
Or call the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758.
Forms can be downloaded and posted to:
Concessions and Support Services Cost of Living Concession Reply Paid 84782 Adelaide SA 5001
For information on other State Government concessions visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions
The roll out of information kiosks around the CORPS community service centres is nearing completion. The aim is to provide access to the Affordable SA App for vistiors to the centres who may not have access through other means.
Playford centre staff (pictured) recently received their built in tablet. These information kiosks are now available in; Arndale, Ingle Farm, Marion, Murray Bridge, Playford, Tea Tree Gully and Port Augusta. City Salvos will be installed early November.
The Affordable SA App is a mobile resource providing easy access to support services for South Australians and empowering house holds facing difficulties in making ends meet. It helps to connect the dots between support services, providing an easy self guiding mobile application so that those in need can make informed decisions to take control over their financial issues and obtain useful assistance for their well being