East Suffolk Council

Money advice and support

A complete list of available support is below. Please take the time to read it and use the links to the support you need.

If you, or someone you know, need help with accessing advice and support with the cost of living, please complete our online Community Help Hub referral form. Please note that we aim to respond to your contact within 3 working days

Help with money

Our Financial Inclusion Team offers helpful, clear and non-judgemental advice and support to households in East Suffolk – whether it’s budgeting, debt, benefits, credit or ways to make your money go further, the team are here to help.

Contact them by calling 0333 016 2000 (ask for help with money) or emailing helpwithmoney@eastsuffolk.gov.uk  

Help and advice with debt

Anyone can find themselves in debt, whether small or large, but help is available.

If you are worried about debt or need help to manage your money, Citizens Advice East Suffolk offer free, impartial and confidential advice and the team can help assess your financial situation and the options available to you.

Help if you’re struggling with debt’ guide from MoneyHelper.

You can also get free confidential advice and support from StepChange, National Debtline and Business Debtline.

Free money advice drop in sessions around East Suffolk

Our Financial Inclusion Team are offering free advice on a range of money related topics, including reducing bills and spending, applying for grants and where to get help for dealing with debt, in the following locations:

Bungay: ‘Number 28’ Wingfield Street, NR35 1EZ
Fortnightly, Thursdays 10am-12pm. For dates see: www.facebook.com/BungayCommunitySupport  

Southwold: Methodist Church, 11 Cumberland Road, IP18 6JN
Monthly, 3rd Friday of the month, 2pm-3:30pm

Felixstowe: The Salvation Army, Cobbold Road, Felixstowe IP11 7EL
Monthly, 3rd Wednesday of the month, 10am-12pm

Pop by for a friendly chat, no appointment is needed.

Support finding employment

Get information on adult learning opportunities, careers advice, training, mentoring and grants for staff working with adult health and social care. Visit Suffolk County Council to find out more.

Multiply is a government-funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills.

Help with financial hardship

The Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS) can help those who find themselves in financial hardship with cash payments towards utility and food costs.

Visit Suffolk County Council to find out more about the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme.

Disability Advice Service East Suffolk also have a dedicated Crisis Team which supports people in hardship and through a period of crisis and are able to fund items that are needed, provide supermarket vouchers, help with fuel payments and more.

Free advice for those with a disability related problem

The Disability Advice Service (DAS) supports those with a disability related problem, including their carers, in the south of the district. They offer free, independent advice on topics such as benefits, housing, home adaptions, accessible transport, employment and much more.

Visit the Disability Advice Service for more information.

Disability Advice North East Suffolk (DANES) offers free information and advice on benefits, employment, activities, equipment, transport and more for those with a disability and/or long-term health condition, their family and carers, in the north of the district.

Visit Disability Advice North East Suffolk for more information.

Winter fuel payment

Pensioners can get between £100 and £300 in the winter months to help pay their energy bills. This is known as the Winter Fuel Payment

Budgeting Loans

You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance, travelling costs and more.

Visit GOV.uk for more information and to check if you’re eligible.

Get help with maternity costs

You could claim a one-off payment of £500 through the Sure Start Maternity Grant to help towards the costs of having a child.

Visit GOV.uk to check if you’re eligible.

Benefits

More than 7 million households in the UK are missing out on benefits they are entitled to.

Are you one of them? Use this GOV.UK free benefits calculator to check.

Pension Credit

If you are over State Pension age and on a low income, you could be eligible for Pension Credit to help with your cost of living and other housing costs, such as ground rent and service charges.

Universal Credit

If you are of working age and on a low income or out of work, you may be eligible for Universal Credit to help cover your living costs.

Childcare

If you have children, you may be entitled to free childcare for children aged between 9 months and 4 years, and help with childcare costs if your child is under 16 (or under 17 and disabled).

Find out what support you qualify for at Childcare Choices. 

Use this GOV.UK online calculator to find out how much you could get.

Carer's Allowance

If you are a carer, you could get £81.90 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week.

Visit GOV.UK to check if you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Apply for Marriage Allowance

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you could be eligible for Marriage Allowance, which lets you transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner if you are a lower rate or non-taxpayer. Check now with GOV. UK.

 

Money related tips and advice