Use the links below to check what benefits and financial support you are entitled to and what advice is available.
An advance of funds, designed to help people with short term need (for example, waiting for their first benefit payment or following a change of circumstances). The advance is then repaid over a short period of time. Please contact the Department for Work and Pensions:
- Employment Support Allowance/Job Seekers Allowance (ESA/JSA): 0800 169 0310
- Carers Allowance: 0800 731 0297
- State Retirement Pension/Pension Credit: 0800 731 0469
- Universal Credit: 0800 328 5644
Or go to www.gov.uk/short-term-benefit-advance.
If you receive Housing benefit or Universal Credit Housing Costs and need help with your rent you may be eligible for a Discretionary Housing payment.
This could help if your Housing Benefit / Universal Credit (Housing Costs element) does not cover your rent, or if you need help with a one-off cost.
DCF is a final safety net if you are experiencing a crisis and cannot resolve your financial difficulties any other way.
DCF provides essential household items for people in urgent need. It does not provide cash or loans.
If you are out of work, on reduced pay or on a low income, you may be eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you are experiencing severe financial hardship or have experienced a crisis or event through no fault of your own and you have claimed any statutory exemption or discount that is available, you may also be eligible for a council tax discretionary reduction in liability.
The Gov.uk website has an online tool to help you find the benefits and financial support you might be eligible for. Visit the website
You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.
You could get up to 3 different types of payment depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period:
- a Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying low income benefit or tax credits
- a Disability Cost of Living Payment, if you get a qualifying disability benefit
- a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023
Visit the Gov.uk website for more information.
Use a budget planner to see where your money goes and to help you manage your personal finances
Check out these budget planners to help you take control of your finances.
MoneyHelper budget planner
Money Helper's budget planner puts you in control of your household spending and analyses your results to help you take control of your money. MoneyHelper also has a useful Beginner’s guide to managing your money
National Debtline budget tool
The National Debtline budget tool will help you work out a detailed personal budget. You can then see how much you have left over and this will help you work out the best way to deal with your debts.
MoneySavingExpert budget planner
The MoneySavingExpert budget planner focuses on the way people spend in the real-world to help you assess your finances
There are many sources of money advice and debt counselling.
Independent and free money and debt advice
National Debtline
Telephone 0808 808 4000 Mon–Fri 9am to 8pm Sat 9.30am to 1pm Visit the National Debtline website
StepChange Debt Charity
Telephone 0800 138 1111 (Freephone including all mobiles) Visit the StepChange website
This national charity gives free advice on:
- managing debt
- individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs)
- debt relief orders.
It runs a free online debt-counselling service Debt Remedy available 24 hours a day. You don’t need to give your name. The service can help you to reach a realistic budget, so you can clear your arrears over a realistic period of time.
The Money Advice Service
Free and impartial money advice, set up by government.
Telephone 0800 138 7777 (Calls are free)
Visit the Money Advice Service website
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
- Saturday, 9am to 1pm
- Sunday and Bank Holidays, closed
Citizens Advice Solihull Borough
Citizens Advice gives confidential advice on benefits, benefit assessment and debt. You can also get referred to this service via any GP Surgery.
Telephone 08082 787976 to find out more about the services available
You can also go to the CAB website.
Solihull Community Housing money advice team
Useful information and tools available on the Solihull Community Housing website.
Community Advice Hubs
Our Community Advice Hubs provide support with debt and applying for benefits to residents who are not a tenant of Solihull Community Housing..
To contact the hubs or book an appointment:
- email admin@solihullcommunityhub.org.uk
- call 0121 709 7590
- Money Manager for Universal Credit Claimants - an online tool claimants can use to help manage their finances.
- Money Adviser Network - This provision is for the claimant to to self-refer into regulated debt advice. Regulated debt advice is provided either by phone or digitally from Citizens Advice, Step Change or National Debt line. Work coaches must not complete the referral process on behalf of the claimant.
- Debt advice locator - This tool allows claimants to access sources of debt advice, and gives them options of telephone, face-to-face and online providers.
- Money navigator tool - For money worries due to coronavirus. The Money Navigator can gives guidance based on an individual’s particular situation.
- Budget planner - to get in control of household spending and see where money is going.
Although most NHS treatment is free, there is usually a charge for NHS prescriptions and other services and items such as:
- NHS dental check-ups and treatment
- sight tests
- new glasses or contact lenses
- repairing or replacing glasses or contact lenses
- NHS wigs
- NHS fabric supports - things like surgical bras, support tights and spinal supports
- travel for NHS treatment
You could be entitled to help with these costs depending on your circumstances.
Finding Your Way Forward - Four on-line tools to help people who:
- Are struggling to keep on top of their bills and payments
- Have experienced a reduction in income or squeezed budgets
- Are self-employed
- Have been or are worried about being made redundant or losing their job
Charitable funds can include grants, essential items, food or cash to help in a crisis or emergency. You can search for available funds by visiting www.turn2us.org.uk or call 0808 802 2000.
If you need help paying for a school uniform please contact:
- the Advanced Credit Union - who could provide you with a loan to cover the costs
- Local support groups
Stop Loan Sharks investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK.
If you have borrowed from a loan shark or are worried about someone else, their specially trained staff will provide you with emotional and practical support that is tailored to your needs.
Call 24/7 on 0300 555 2222 or start a Live Chat on the website at www.stoploansharks.co.uk
Provides financial assistance to those who currently working in the UK grocery industry and can evidence a minimum of one year’s service or more and those who no longer working in the grocery industry, but previously worked in it for five years or more:
- Telephone 08088 021 122 (24/7 Helpline, 365 days a year) or
- email welfare@groceryaid.org.uk
For further information, see GroceryAid website
Grants for families facing financial hardship while caring for a child with a serious illness.
From funding specialist equipment and creative therapies to hospital travel expenses.
For further information, see Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.
Get help with savings if you’re on a low income, Help to Save is a type of savings account. It allows certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years.
The scheme is available to people who are:
- entitled to Working Tax Credit and receiving payments for Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
- claiming Universal Credit and have a household income - in their last monthly assessment period - of £604.56 or more
Help to Save account holders can save up to £50 a month in their account. They will receive a 50% bonus on their highest balance after 2 years and a further bonus after 4 years if they continue to save.
People who want to take part should apply online via the how to apply page at GOV.UK.
For further information, see Help to Save at GOV.UK.
The Big Difference Scheme can help customers who are in receipt of a low income and struggling to pay their water charges. If eligible for the scheme, you could receive up to 90% off the average Severn Trent water bill.
The scheme is open to all Severn Trent Water customers who are in receipt of a low income.
If you have a child who is eligible for income based free school meals, please apply to the scheme.
How to apply
Visit the Severn Trent Trust Fund website for more information on how to apply.
A financial not-for-profit co-operative, Advance Credit Union is ‘owned’ by the 5,000 members who save and borrow with the credit union. Unlike a conventional bank, a Credit Union is run by the people who use it. Anyone who lives or works within a ‘B’ postcode including Birmingham and Solihull Borough can join.
Offering a convenient and safe way to put some money away for the future and a cost-effective way to borrow ethically and responsibly.
In addition to savings and loans Advance Credit Union offers a variety of other services: