RENT, BENEFITS & MONEYTimes are tough! But whatever the pressures, there are ways to cope financially. below are some resources, links and information to help you keep your tenancy if you're struggling with rent, debt or your finances generally.
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Rent & Council Tax |
Your rent needs to be your priority. Without a place to call home, even little things can be difficult - and expensive. Rent and Council tax are two payments that you can't afford not to make.
If your circumstances have recently changed, and you can no longer afford your rent, there are several things you can do. First, speak to your landlord. Let them know what the situation is, and ask if they would consider lowering the rent for a set time. Make sure that the Housing Benefit department has all your latest information, so they can assess if you are eligible for more money towards your rent. If your rent is much higher than the Local Housing Allowance rate, or if you are have more bedrooms than you need, you will probably need to move to a more affordable property. It is also worth checking to make sure you're in reciept of all eligible benefits, as this may make the vital difference. The Turn2Us website is an excellent resource that helps you access available benefits and grants. If your shortfall in rent is only temporary (e.g. due to sickness), the council may consider a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to help keep you in your property. They will only consider this if it is clear you cannot afford it yourself after cutting out all non-essential expenditure. The earlier you approach your landlord and/or council, the more likely you are to resolve the situation without becoming homeless. |
Benefits |
Even if you are working, you may still be entitled to some benefits - for example Housing Benefit, Working or Child Tax Credits, Turn2Us is a national charity that is set up to help people in financial difficulty access help through benefits and charitable grants. You can acess their benefits calculator, grant search tool, and other support through their website at www.turn2us.org.uk
The Citizen's Advice Bureau also have a comprehensive Benefits Advice section on their website, and also have volunteers who can help if you are unable to access these resources unaided. Click HERE to calculate your Local Housing Allowance on the Plymouth City Council website |
Budgeting on a Low Income |
There are many resources to help you manage your money more efficiently in difficult times: from advice about budgeting and what payments to make a priority, to help with serious debts, negotiating with creditors, and applying for debt relief.
In the links at the bottom of the page, you can find a Budget Worksheet and a link to useful budgeting tool from the Money Advice Service to help you work out your starting point. They also have a useful Cutback Calculator that helps you work out annual savings over changing small habits. The Money Saving Expert is another great resource for finding cheaper ways to do the things you normally do. If you need further assistance, or are struggling to understand your finances generally, seek help or advice as early as you can, as money problems can easily spiral out of control if ignored. |
Hardship and Debt |
The CAB Advice Guide is a very useful online resource . If you have access to the internet (you can also get computer access at your local library) you can look here before contacting the CAB direct.
National Debtline – 0808 808 4000 Free help & advice for people dealing with debt Money Advice Service - 0300 500 5000 Free service to help people manage money Turn2us – Can assist with access to benefits and grants |
