What are supplements?
Supplements are an extra amount that you need to pay for the Third Age Matters magazine and certain groups which are more expensive to run. The majority of groups will continue to run as at present with no supplement. If you choose to receive the Third Age Matters magazine or belong to one of the groups needing supplemental payments, you will need to pay extra in addition to the standard subscription. You can opt not to pay the supplement for the magazine or a group but then you will no longer receive the magazine or be a member of the group.
Why do we need group supplements?
When the scheme of paying for the venues used by groups was introduced several years ago, rules governing the amount that would be paid were set out. These rules had to be amended to make the operation of certain types of activity viable. The scheme has worked well for a number of years, but there were concerns about the relative cost of some groups which required 4-6 subscriptions per member of the group to suport their activities. The number of groups involved in these more expensive activities was increasing and that trend could not be supported without substantial increases in the single subscription to support an obvious inequality. The initial sollution has been to introduce subsidies for venue hire up to a fixed amount with a move to supplements for all paid venues in 2023-2024.
What has been done to reduce costs?
The easy steps have been taken. All communications will be via email where possible; that is an action that can be taken immediately. Printing and posting is expensive and is about £1 per member for a simple letter. That is around £1700 for every mail shot, a lot more if we consider a printed newsletter. We have a limited number of members without email and we have to continue to support them via post. Other options are being investigated, but none are simple. The introduction of supplements has made groups aware of their costs and many have worked hard to reduce them. Certain activities need to be done on a weekly basis to make them viable and that sets a limit on cost reductions.
How do I know if my group needs a supplement?
When you look up a group's details on the website, it will highlight if a supplement is requried at the bottom of the group's details. If you have a SuCAS account, the first page after logging-in will also show the supplements for any of your groups. If you don't see any supplement information in these two places, then your group does not have a supplement. When you renew your subscription online, the supplements for any groups to which you belong will be shown. You will have the option to decline paying a supplement, but that means you will cease to be a member of the group.
How are the group supplements calculated?
There is a maximum cost of the venue for the year that will be paid for a group from the central funds. If that cost is exceeded, then the members of that group pay a supplement, which is the excess cost divided by the number of group members. If the supplement per member exceeds £5 per annum, then the supplement will be paid in instalments across 3 terms. The supplement for the first term will be collected with the standard susbscription. Circumstances may change during the year and supplements will be reviewed for each term.
How do I pay a supplement?
When renewing, the supplements for any groups to which you belong will be shown with your basic subscription. The year is being divided into 3 terms. If a supplement exceeds £5 per annum, then the supplement will be paid in instalments across 3 terms. Because supplements for each term are rounded to the nearest pound, they may not be the same for each term. Please pay the first installment with the standard susbscription. Any supplement declined means you will cease to be a member of the group. If you decide to rejoin a group, if the group has a waiting list, you will be at the back of the waiting list.
Please address any supplement concerns to your group organiser.
Please do NOT pay any instalments for later terms with your initial renewal. Instalments for subsequent terms will be collected at the beginning of each term.
Reminders will be issued prior to payment and the reminder will contain a link to an online payment facility. Help will be available from the Office for those without suitable online access. You may decline to pay a supplement instalment, but that means you will cease to be a member of the group.
How do I know if I have paid a supplement?
Each supplement that you pay is specifically itemised. If you look at your application details online, you will see an itemised list of all the supplements you have paid. The office is also able to look up your payments and confirm what you have paid.
How does my group organiser know if I have paid a supplement?
Against the list of members for a group, the group organiser can see which members have paid a supplement.
What happens if I forget to pay a supplement installment?
Reminders will be issued prior to payment and the reminder will contain a link to an online payment facility. if you fail to respond to the reminders then you will cease to be a member of the group. Help will be available from the Office for those without suitable online access.
What happens if I join a group needing a supplement part way through a year?
You will need to join the group first. Once you have joined a group, the system will know that you need to pay a supplement and inform you of what you need pay. If you do not have an email address, the office will be informed and contact you for payment.
If I've paid a supplement and renew before the new year starts, but pay no supplements for the new year, are my existing supplements valid for the remainder of the current year?
Any supplements that you have paid for the current year will remain valid to the end of the current year. If you are renewing before the start of the year, your decisions are for the next year and do not affect the current year.
What happens in 2023-2024?
From 1st September 2023 all groups will be responsible for their venue costs. This has three conseqences,
Supplements will continue to be collected centrally.