Managing your money

Benefits and tax credits

If you are struggling financially, you may be entitled to claim certain benefits.  There are some great resources and tips to manage your money effectively, with practical support and advice to help you deal with any debts.

 

Redbridge Council's Benefits Service	Our Welfare Benefits Team can tell you what council tax reduction and benefits you may be entitled to such as PIP, DLA Housing Benefits, Carers Allowance and ESA and how to claim them.
Redbridge Council's Citizens Advice Bureau	The Citizens Advice Bureau has advice on a wide range of issues including, money, benefit, housing or employment problems. You will also be able to find guidance on how to complete many of the online forms and what is required when you send the forms off such as PIP, ESA amongst other forms.
Turn 2 Us	Turn 2 Us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services. The online calculator on Turn 2 us website can help you check your entitlement.
Government website: GOV.UK	The Government website: GOV.UK has lots of information, including benefit calculators, on a range of benefits and credits you may be entitled to.  You may be able to get an advance on your first benefit payment if you’re in urgent financial need. This is called a short term benefit advance.
DWP Budgeting Loans	A Budgeting Loan can help pay for things like household goods, clothing, rent in advance and repaying certain loans. To check if you are eligible visit the budgeting loans page on GOV.UK
Aged between 16 and 19 years benefits and support	Benefits and support such as universal credit, housing benefit, parent's learning allowance, health cost and bursaries are also available for those aged between 16 and 19 years.

Money management

Debt advice

If you find yourself getting into debt including rent or mortgage arrears, fuel debts, payday loans or credit and store card debts or other, it is important that you do not ignore your bills or debt letters. Instead you should seek advice as soon as possible to discuss your situation and take the appropriate actions

You can get free independent help and advice from any of the following national or local advice agencies:

• National Debtline  –  call 0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday, 9:30am to 1pm 
• StepChange Debt Charity  –  call 0800 138 1111, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday, 8am to 4pm
• Payplan – Money and debt advice, 0800 280 2816
• Mary Ward Legal Centre – provides free independent advice to people who live and work in London to help them access their legal rights and entitlements; the main areas of law they help with are debt, housing and welfare benefits

Check find.redbridge.gov.uk for more debt advice if you are not a Council tenant.

The Money Advice Service 

The Money Advice Service provides free and impartial money advice.

Borrowing and saving money

Planning for the future, moving home, having a baby or retiring are some of the life changes that people experience. You can prepare for these by putting some savings aside. There are a range of services that can help with budgeting, saving and provide advice on bank accounts and credit.

Liberty Credit Union

Liberty Credit Union is a community-based savings and loans organisation, open to anyone who lives or works in the boroughs of Redbridge, Havering, or Barking and Dagenham. Liberty Credit Union can offer an easy access savings account and preferential rate loans with free life and loan insurance. 

 

Other help you may be entitled to:

Family Fund	Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
Financial Support for your child	Child maintenance is financial support towards your child’s everyday living costs when you’ve separated from the other parent.
Redbridge Food Bank	Redbridge Food Bank is part of a national network of foodbanks giving out nutritionally balanced emergency food to people in crisis.
Prince's Trust	From planning your monthly spending budget to finding the best deal at the supermarket, here's lots of handy tools to support you and your finances.