If you owe money and you're struggling to pay Citizens Advice Charnwood can help you find the right help. But firstly, you should speak to the organisations you owe money to – they might let you pay smaller amounts or take a break from payments. Check out this information.

Don't ignore bills or letters about money you owe. Speak to one of our Money Advice team on 01509 221218 or leave your details on the ansaphone so someone can call you back.

Check what benefits you can get

You might be able to claim benefits or increase your current benefits if you're:
of working age and on a low income
sick or disabled
of state pension age and on a low income
a carer
responsible for children

Most benefits can be paid early. This is known as a 'short term benefit advance'.
A small amount will be taken off future payments to pay it back - usually for 12 weeks.
You can also ask for an advance payment of Universal Credit to help you while you're waiting for your first payment.

However, you CAN'T get a benefit paid early for:
Housing Benefit; Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP); Child Benefit; Guardian's Allowance; Working or Child Tax credits

Your local council might help you pay for things like:
your energy and water bills
food
essential items - for example, clothes or an oven

This help is known as 'welfare assistance' or the 'Household Support Fund'. Each council runs their own scheme. You'll need to check if you can get support and what type of support you can get. Our Advisers can help you with this.

Energy Bills Support Scheme
Under this scheme the government will give every household in Great Britain £400 off their electricity bill. You don't need to do anything to get the money and you won't have to pay it back.

You'll get the £400 in 6 instalments starting from October 2022
£66 in October and November
£67 in December, January, February and March

How the payments will be applied:

If you pay by:

monthly direct debit the payment will either be credited automatically to your bank account or your Direct Debit will be reduced automatically.

standard credit it will be credited automatically to the energy account

Smart prepayment meter it will be credited automatically to the electricity account – with potential plans to allow customers to switch it to gas accounts

Traditional prepayment meter - voucher sent (via text, email or post) to be used on electricity (and potentially gas subject to supplier) when you are topping up as normal. You should make sure supplier has up to date contact info.
If you have separate suppliers for gas and electricity, the discount will come via the electricity supplier and only its rules will count. You should get the discount even if you switch suppliers. You should have three months to redeem each voucher – and if you lose them or they expire, they can only be reissued up until 31 March 2023.

The government will also send you extra one-off payments if you get certain benefits - for example:

Universal Credit, PIP or Attendance Allowance, if you are over State Pension age and get Winter Fuel Payments
You can get as many of these extra payments as you're eligible for. You won't have to pay tax on them and they won't count as income when calculating your benefits.

Getting help with pets
If you're using a food bank, you might be able to ask for some things, like pet food. Check with your local food bank if they're able to help.
You can also check if there's a pet food bank in your area. Ask your local vet or pet shop, or search online for 'pet food bank' and your local town.
You might be able to find free pet food collection points at your local supermarket, pet store or animal charity.

Get help with vet care
You might be eligible for free or reduced vet care from Blue Cross if you:
get certain means-tested benefits and live close to one of their hospitals or clinics

Check if you can get free or reduced vet care on the Blue Cross website
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/veterinary

You also might be able to get free or reduced vet care from charities such as:
RSPCA and PDSA. (https://www.rspca.org.uk/costofliving) (https://www.pdsa.org.uk/contact-us )

Finally, if you don't have enough to live on, you might be able to get help from the government or your local council to afford essentials like bills and food. Our Advisers can help you with this,

To speak to one of our Advisers ring our local enquiry line on 01509 649605 (open Monday & Thursday 9.30am-3pm & Tuesday 9.30-12.00)
or the National Advice line on Freephone 0800 144 8848 (open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
If you have debts ring our Money Advice team on 01509 221218 and leave your details so we can call you back.

More information can be found on our website www.charnwoodcab.org.uk