Money and Benefits Advice
In this section you will find money, benefits and debt advice, along with help to get back into work, including free job coaching.
Local Authority Household Support extended!
The government has extended the Household Support Fund until March 2025, so if you are struggling with the cost of essentials, your local authority may be able to help you.
To find out more visit – www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council
Our Team
Our Successful Tenancies Team can work with you to achieve positive results that will help to sustain your tenancy and assist in other aspects of life. We can carry out a full benefit check to see if your income can be increased and run through a budget with you to look at reducing your outgoings.
We keep up to date with the many changes in the Welfare Benefit system, as well as keeping our eyes out for grants and schemes that may be available to you in your local area.
Below you can find out more about how the team can help you. Further down the page, you will find our online form, which you simply need to complete and we will be in touch.
How we can help you
Moving to Universal Credit
Help to claim UC
The government offer advice and support, as highlighted in the next section.
Citizens Advice Help to Claim service also offer free advice.
Our Successful Tenancies Team can also support you. Simply complete the self-referral form at the bottom of this page and one of our friendly advisers will contact you.
Please don't ignore your Migration Notice
If you are going to be moved to UC, you will receive a letter known as a MIGRATION NOTICE.
If you receive a notice, do not ignore it!
Managed Migration to Universal Credit
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has started moving people from certain working age benefits to Universal Credit - this known as Managed Migration. The benefits affected are known as legacy benefits and are listed below:
- Income Support
- Income based job seekers allowance
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Child and working tax credits
The process of Managed Migration is happening in stages and will affect different areas at different times. The DWP aim to complete this process by 2028.
Universal Credit Migration Notice Online Support
- Information about the move to universal credit - GOV.UK
- What to do if you receive a migration notice - GOV.UK
- Website dedicated to information about claiming UC - Understanding Universal Credit
Universal Credit Migration Notice helpline
- Phone: 0800 169 0328 - Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm - 0800 phone numbers are free to call from mobiles and landlines.
- Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0328
- Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users. Watch the video to find out how to use the Video relay service on mobile or tablet.
Advice
The Money Advice Service offers a Debt Advice Locator which tells you where you can get free debt advice in your area. This is a really good tool to help you take control of your financial situation and feel less stressed and anxious.
You could also have a look at:
- Citizens Advice
- Money Advice Service
Worried about debts or have missed payments? There is free, confidential, and independent debt advice available. The government sponsored MoneyHelper can direct you to a debt adviser straight away by telephone or you can get support online here.
There are further online tools to help you manage your money in the MoneyHelper drop down section below. - StepChange
- Christians Against Poverty
- Payplan debt advice
- National Debtline
There are a lot of resources available online for debt advice - many of these are free, but please remember to always check where this advice is coming from, and be sure that there are no hidden costs or contracts.
There are lots of things you can do to help you get back on track.
Looking at your income and expenditure by using our self-service benefit and budget calculator found at the bottom of this page. You can also forward this to our Sustainable Tenancies team to ask for further assistance. Please make sure that you enter your name and postcode when forwarding this calculation to us.
Information regarding the different benefits available can be found on the government's website and Money Helper has lots of information and advice on a range of issues.
Many people are eligible to claim Universal Credit. Remember, it is important that you check your account regularly and keep your journal up to date with any changes in your circumstances.
Here is further advice on things that you can do to get back on track:-
MoneyHelper - a government backed service providing advice and support on money matters. It has tools for budgeting and calculators to help you plan your spending. There is up to date information on support available from the government. Click 'MoneyHelper' or call them on 0800 138 7777.
Council Tax – make sure you are claiming Council Tax Support or Reduction for help paying your bill and check that you are getting any discounts that may apply to you. This can usually be done online on your Council’s website.
Debts – you can get free help through charities such as StepChange, PayPlan or your local Citizen’s Advice. The MoneyHelper website can help you find the nearest free debt service.
Utilities – you can get free energy advice through the Warm and Safe Home advice service (WASH). They can help you if you have questions about your energy bills or are worried about keeping warm and safe at home. To speak to one of their advisers call 0800 304 7159 or ask for help here.
Water – many providers have social tariffs and schemes to support customers. To find out who your provider is and their contact details, and to find out what is on offer, click 'Water'
Internet – some broadband companies offer discounts to households getting certain benefits. If you are getting income support, income-based ESA, income-based JSA, pension credit or universal credit, there may be tariffs to save you money. Check with your provider to see what options you have.
The ongoing increases in energy bills is a huge concern for everyone and things are constantly changing.
Please visit our dedicated cost of living area to find lots of useful advice and guidance.
MoneyHelper - a government backed service providing advice and support on money matters. It has tools for budgeting and calculators to help you plan your spending. There is up to date information on support available from the government. Find here or call them on 0800 138 7777.
Council Tax – make sure you are claiming Council Tax Support or Reduction for help paying your bill and check that you are getting any discounts that may apply to you. This can usually be done online on your Council’s website.
Debts – you can get free help through charities such as StepChange, PayPlan or your local Citizen’s Advice. The MoneyHelper website can help you find the nearest free debt service.
Utilities – you can get free energy advice through the Warm and Safe Home advice service (WASH). They can help you if you have questions about your energy bills or are worried about keeping warm and safe at home. To speak to one of their advisers call 0800 304 7159 or ask for help here
Water – many providers have social tariffs and schemes to support customers. You can find out who your provider is and their contact details here
Internet – some broadband companies offer discounts to households getting certain benefits. If you are getting income support, income-based ESA, income-based JSA, pension credit or universal credit, there may be tariffs to save you money. Check with your provider to see what options you have.
Worried about debts or have missed payments? There is free, confidential, and independent debt advice available. The government sponsored MoneyHelper can direct you to a debt adviser straight away by telephone or you can get support online here
Quick Links:
Successful Tenancies Support Form
How we helped customers in 2022-23
Last year, the cost of living crisis in such close succession to the pandemic, presented huge challenges for everyone. To help you during this difficult time we grew our support services, which included raising the total value of our Wellbeing Fund to £2 million and increasing the number of Successful Tenancies Advisors available to help you.
Initiatives such as Stay Nimble and Fusion also enabled us to offer you employment advice, whether for a career change due to redundancy or navigating moving into a job for the first time. To enhance our support, we also partnered with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) who offer expert energy advice and Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) for specialist debt support.
2022-23 Highlights
Our Successful Tenancies Team:
- Secured £2,583,000 extra income for customers
- Dealt with 6,317 referrals.
- Which was a 16% increase on the previous year
Our Wellbeing Team provided:
- 6,488 awards
- Totalling £1,982,604.49
