Here in the UK there are some great resources you can turn to for advice and information that can help make things easier.
(Sorry international listeners, we just don’t have the knowledge to suggest sites for you. Please email us if you can help with this.)
MoneyHelper (aka the Money and Pensions Service)
MoneyHelper is the UK Government’s free, impartial money information and guidance service. There are lots of videos, clear explanations about financial products and ideas, and handy online tools.
Citizens Advice
Most people have heard of Citizens Advice Bureaux or the CAB*, the local advice centres offering help with a range of housing, consumer, legal, debt and benefits issues. However, many are not aware that the Citizens Advice website is packed with useful info on these topics.
(*now just called Citizens Advice)
Money Saving Expert
For reliable UK consumer advice, including best buy recommendations of specific products and lots of information about deals, discounts and generally getting thrifty, Money Saving Expert is hard to beat.
There are also forums where you can get more advice and support from other money savers, including an excellent Debt-Free Wannabe board.
They also have advice on boosting your income, and many of the suggestions can be done from home.
Water
If you’re struggling to pay your water bill, remember you can’t be cut off but the water company might send debt collectors or bailiffs to your home. Find out more about your rights as a water customer on the CCW website. Citizens Advice also has help on problems with water bills.
Energy
If you have a pre-payment meter and you are struggling to top up, contact your provider and they may be able to help.
They Money Saving Expert website has info on top-ups too.
If you’re struggling to pay your energy costs, you may be able to get a grant to help pay off the debt.
British Gas energy trust offers help, even if you’re not their customer.
You’ll need to be a customer of the organisations below to apply for their assistance.
Citizens Advice also has a section on its website with advice for sorting out problems with energy costs.
You can access help with making applications to some funds from Charis.
If you’re stressed because you’re struggling to pay your bills and/or repay borrowed money, contact a debt adviser at one of the following free, independent debt charities:
National Debtline
National Debtline gives guided self-help for people in England Wales and Scotland. The organisation produces lots of good resources like form letters and information sheets.
If you would be comfortable negotiating with your creditors these are the people for you.
You can also phone them on 0808 808 4000.
National Debtline also run Business Debtline for self-employed people in England, Wales and Scotland. You can call them on 0800 197 6026 too.
Advice NI
People in Northern Ireland can contact Advice NI for both telephone and face to face debt support.
They cover lots personal and business debt and may also be able to help with questions around tax, housing, benefits, residency and other topics.
You can call them on 0800 028 1881.
StepChange
StepChange Debt Charity give advice online or over the phone and can negotiate with creditors on your behalf.
You can also phone on 0800 138 1111.
Tully
Tully is a digital-only debt advice service that uses open banking technology to give free, personalised debt advice, money coaching and more.
Face-to-face help
You can search for face-to-face debt advice services near you on the MoneyHelper Debt Advice Locator Tool.
Most centres are not operating face-to-face advice services at this time, but you may be lucky.
Every year billions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed because people don’t know what they are entitled to. For example, there is a misconception that benefits are only for people who are not working, but there are benefits that exist to support people in work too.
It’s a good idea to check whether there are any benefits you could claim at least once a year.
Turn2Us
This national financial support charity has lots of resources for helping you find out more about benefits, including:
lots of general information about benefits, including how to apply
a benefits calculator where you can check whether you are entitled to any help
a database of grants that can be paid to individuals, so if you, or someone you know, is really struggling, search the database to find out if there is a trust or foundation that might be able to give you a grant.
If you think your employer is taking advantage of the crisis to treat you badly, check your rights.
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They’ve also created a special section of their website with advice during coronavirus.
Shelter are a great source of advice and information on all things housing and landlord related. If you’re concerned you may lose your home, please contact them.
You local authority may be able to help. They may have hardship funds, you may be eligible for a discretionary housing payment to help with housing costs, some offer benefits and other advice.
Find you local authority here.
Citizens Advice and Which? both offer advice on consumer rights and scams.
Action Fraud
The official police website, with information about scams and a place to report scams and frauds, is Action Fraud.
You can also call on 0300 123 2040.
If things get desperate and you may be able to get a food parcel to tide you over, The Trussell Trust run the main network of food banks in the UK, but there are also independent providers, so if there isn’t a Trussell Trust food bank near you there might be one of those.
If your income is uncertain, then try to avoid borrowing if at all possible. If you really need to borrow, find out whether you can join a credit union. Credit unions are financial non-profits that offer safe savings and affordable loans to their local communities or to employees of specific organisations or members of specific associations.
Loans are assessed on individual affordability, rather than credit score, so even if you’ve had missed payments in the past, if you’re on top of things now, they will still lend, as long as you can show you can afford the repayments.
They are also flexible, so you can overpay penalty-free and reduce the amount of interest you end up paying overall. This flexibility makes them a solid option for people whose credit is good too.
To find a credit union you could join, click here.
If you are a part of a group that has additional needs such as single parents or people with a particular health condition or disability, please get in touch with the organisation the represents your group. They may well have specialist advisers who can give you extra support. These are just a few examples:
People with disabilities and their families
People with mental health needs and their families
Stroke survivors and their families
In short, don’t be afraid or ashamed to reach out to the people who want to support you. You deserve better than to struggle on alone.
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