No Interest Loans Provide a Hand Up to Those in Need
The ‘No Interest Loans Scheme’ is a great way to help the people we assist access the goods and services they need and receive budgeting help at the same time.
Did you know that the Society’s No Interest Loans (NILS) team provided 682 loans to people in need between July 2021 and March 2022?
The NILS program provides low-income families and individuals access to safe and affordable credit with no interest and no fees. Through the program, the Society provides loans for a range of significant and essential items such as whitegoods, household furniture, car repairs/registration costs, medical expenses and much more. This helps people avoid using payday lenders and buy-now-pay-later schemes that incur severe penalties.
The NILS program provides a hand up to the people we assist by providing them with finance for the good or services they need. At the same time, trained NILS officers openly discuss the person’s budget, giving them a better understanding of how to apply for and maintain credit, and the benefits of repaying finance on time.
People are eligible for a NILS loan provided they can meet these 3 criteria:
- They have a current income below $45,000 for singles or $60,000 for couples and people with dependents OR they hold a current Centrelink Healthcare Card or Pension Concession Card
- They have been at their current or previous address for longer than 3 months
- They can demonstrate their capacity to repay the loan, and a willingness to keep current bills and debts up to date as shown by their payment history.
If you would like to know more about NILS, are interested in becoming involved, or would like to refer a person to the program, you can contact the NILS team on 1800 484 664 (9am-3pm, Monday to Friday), or email nils@vinnies.org.au.