Money advice
Many of us will experience money problems at some point during our lives and it can happen to anyone. Our Money Smart team offer confidential advice and guidance and can put you in touch with a range of support services.
If you need help, complete our income and expenditure form, and a member of our Money Smart team will contact you.
Our Money Smart team can help people with a wide range of money matters, including:
- help with dealing with rent arrears
- advice and support applying for benefits, including Universal Credit or Pension Credit
- budgeting
- applications to grant schemes
- advice about bank and credit union accounts
- advice and guidance about dealing with loan sharks
- help getting the best deals
- access to low cost furniture
Use this calculator first to find out what benefits you are entitled to claim
Universal Credit has replaced many of the former welfare benefits, such as job seekers allowance and housing benefit. It is for people of working age on a low income or out of work. It’s a single benefit that is paid directly to claimants monthly in arrears.
If you’re already a tenant, you will know how much it costs to run a home. There are lots of different costs to consider.
Before moving home, you will need budget for things like furniture and decoration, white goods, moving costs, and your first month’s rent. Once you’re moved in, you will have to pay ongoing costs like rent, council tax, electric, gas, water, phone and internet, and home contents insurance. These costs all add up and can be difficult to manage without a proper budget.
The cost of gas, electric and water are some of our main household outgoings. How much you pay will depend largely on how much you use, but there are other ways of keeping your costs down.
- ACCI (African Caribbean Community Initiative)
- Age UK for people aged 50 and over
- Base 25 for young people
- Money Advice Service
- National Debtline
- Refugee and Migrant Centre
- SSAFA for ex-service personnel
- Step Change for people in debt
- The Royal British Legion for people in the armed forces
The UK Government is offering a range of support for households to help with the rising cost of living. See their website for more information on benefits, discounts and offers you may be eligible for.