Hit a rough spot? You’re definitely not alone; these are unprecedented times, and many people are struggling so we absolutely sympathise.

Below is a list of resources that may be of assistance if you’re facing difficult times.

Benefits

1. Inbest: available within the Financial Wellbeing app.

2. Turn2Us: a free and confidential Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits you may be entitled to claim

3. Entitledto: another free and confidential Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits may be entitled to claim

4. Citizens Advice: information on different benefits available, if you speak with your local branch, they’ll be able to assist you in completing any application forms

5. Government Benefits: further information can be found on the government website.

Understanding your Payslip

• CIPP: an interactive payslip tool has been created to help you understand your payslip and how it is broken down

Bills & Cost of Living

1. Citizens Advice: have general advice on getting help with the cost of living and bills

2. Household Support Fund: Local councils are offering support with essential costs, you’ll need to reach out to your local council to confirm how to apply - council search here

3. Cost of Living Payments: if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits you may be entitled to a cost of living payment

4. Council Tax Reduction: you could be eligible for up to 100% reduction if you’re on low income or claim benefits or a 25% reduction is you live alone, you’ll need to speak with your local council to confirm how to apply - council search here

5. Energy Grants: Major energy suppliers have millions of pounds in grants to support those experiencing financial difficulties

6. Social Tariffs: Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.

7. Water Bill: CCW provides information and useful tools to help you reduce your bills or access financial support, including advice on the different types of schemes that water companies provide.

8. Help for Households: general government advice on the support available to help with the cost of living and saving money on energy bills
   
   

Child Care

1. Child care Choices: Government assistance with childcare costs for parents.

2. Government help: Use this calculator to find out how much you could get towards approved childcare

3. Sure Start: Sure Start centers give help and advice on child and family health, parenting, money, training, and employment. Some centers also provide early learning and full-day care for preschool children.

4. Sure Start Maternity Grant: You could get a one-off payment to help towards the costs of having a child if you’re on certain benefits.
   
   

Debt

1. National Debt Helpline: Call on 0808 808 4000 or use their webchat (Mon-Fri 9 am-8 pm, Sat 9.30 am-1pm for impartial, non-judgemental advice

2. Step Change: Call 0800 138 1111 (Mon-Frid 8 am-8 pm, Sat 9 am-2 pm) for free debt advice

3. Citizens Advice Debt and Money: General Information on debt, debt solutions, budgeting, and mortgage problems. Your local Citizens Advice may also have debt specialists who can offer individual advice
   
   

Disability Support

1. Access to Work: Access to Work can help you get or stay at work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

2. Disability Grants:  Discover what’s available nationally and in your local area by searching the individual sections.

3. Scope: Services providing practical and emotional support

4. Citizens Advice: General information on benefits if you’re sick or disabled.

5. Citizens Advice - Transport: Help with transport costs
   
   

Domestic Abuse

1. For immediate help in participating pharmacies and Jobcentres, ask for ANI - you’ll be offered a private space and asked if you need support

2. Safe Space: Organisations providing Safe Spaces include; Boots, Morrisons pharmacies, Superdrug pharmacies, Well pharmacies, independent pharmacies, HSBC, TSB, The Co-operative Bank, and selected Metro Banks. You can use a safe space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, and can reach out to specialist support services. Safe Spaces are open and ready for you to use.

3. Refuge: they run a free 24/7 National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247

4. Respect: Free men’s advice line 0808 8010 327

5. Women’s Aid: For information on domestic abuse

6. Bright Sky: a safe, easy-to-use app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse.

7. Citizens Advice: General information

8. Government: General information
   
   

Drugs & Alcohol

1. Mind: have a list of different organisations that can help with drug use

2. Action Helpline: available 24/7 on 01512 686 992

3. Alcoholics Anonymous: for help and support with alcohol

4. Frank: Find details of local and national services

5. NHS: general advice on support and treatments
   
   

Food

1. Trussell Trust: For your local food banks, you’ll need a referral to use a food bank which you can get from your local citizens advice or another organisation such as your GP, housing association, or social worker.

2. You may be able to use a social supermarket to access cheaper food: Community Grocery, Community Shop Stores, Your Local Pantry, or The Real Junk Food Project

3. Healthy Start: If you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 you could get help to buy, milk, fruit, and veg

4. Olio: an app to pass on things you no longer need, food, and other items

5. Too Good to Go: Download the app to see if you can rescue food in your local area for ⅓ of the original price.

6. RSPCA Pet Food Bank: Food banks for pets and their owners
   
   

Funerals & Bereavements

1. Government - Bereavement Support: You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner has died.

2. Government - Funerals: If you’re on certain benefits, you may be able to get help with funeral costs

3. My Funeral Matters: If a loved one passes away and you think they might have purchased a funeral plan, but you can’t find any of the information, you can use the funeral matters tracing service to help locate one.
   
   

Gambling

1. Be Gamble Aware: Call 0808 8020 133 24/7 for the national gambling helpline, or visit their website for more information

2. Gam Care:  Chat on WhatsApp with +44 20 3031 8881, or visit their website for more information

3. Gordon Moody: Clink the link for support and information

4. NHS: General information and resources for help and support with Gambling
   
   

General Help

1. Local Welfare Assistance: Your local council may be able to help you get hold of items of furniture – as well as help with other issues, such as debt advice, food and fuel poverty. They do this through what is known as their local welfare assistance schemes (LWASs), also known as local welfare provision (LWP) or crisis support.

2. Citizens Advice: for support on benefits, work, debt & money, housing, consumer advice, family, legal information, immigration, and health

3. The Money Saving Expert: Advice on cutting costs and saving money

4. Money Helper: free, impartial guidance on money
   
   

Grants

1. Turn2Us: A grant search to match with different grants you may be eligible for

2. Access to Work: Access to Work can help you get or stay at work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability

3. Government Grants: For Individuals, voluntary, community or social enterprises, and small or medium businesses

4. Food Aid Network: Non-statutory cash grants available for individuals experiencing hardship in the UK.
   
   

Health

1. Marie Curie: Call 0800 090 2309 (Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm, Sat 11 am-5 pm) or visit their site for more information on terminal illness care and support

2. NHS - help with costs:: You may be able to get support with health costs or travel to appointments

3. Access to Work: Access to Work can help you get or stay at work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

4. Pregnancy Sickness Support: Information & support

5. Citizens Advice: General information on benefits if you’re sick or disabled.
   
   

Housing & Rent

1. Discretionary Housing Payment: you can apply for DHP if you’re receiving housing benefits or the housing element of Universal Credit, you’ll need to speak with your local council to confirm how to apply - council search here

2. Shelter: Housing and Homelessness Advice

3. Citizens Advice - Struggling to pay Rent: Information on what to do if you can’t pay your rent. Mortgage Advice page here.

4. Citizens Advice - Evictions - For information on evictions, worth noting it’ll typically take 8-12 weeks to be evicted once the eviction notice is sent (section 21).

5. Council Housing: If you're about to lose your home you’ll need to reach out to your local council. 
   
   

Loan Sharks

1. If someone who has lent you money threatens you or is violent, speak with the police straight away. Do this even if it’s an informal loan from someone you know, such as a friend or family member.

2. Stop Loan Sharks: call their Illegal Money Lending Hotline on 0300 555 2222 available 24/7 or text loan shark and their message to 60003. Additional information on their site.

3. Citizens Advice - Loan Sharks: For general information on Loan Sharks
   
   

Mental Health

1. If either you or someone else’s life is at risk call 999 or go to A&E if you can.

2. Hub for Hope: The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database, enter your postcode for local services

3. The Samaritans: They're available 24/7  to speak to about a range of concerns on 116 123 and are free and confidential. 

4. Shout: free and confidential support, text 85258

5. Mind: Crisis services for urgent mental health

6. Suicide Prevention UK: Call 0800 689 5652 for help with mental health and/or thoughts of suicide
   
   

Travel

1. NHS Travel Costs Scheme: You may qualify for help with travel to appointments if you’re on benefits or meet the criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme - criteria here

2. Government: General information on travel costs, also worth checking if your local council is currently running any subsided schemes - council search here