Don't leave it too late, get help now!
This webpage highlights the free information and support that is
on offer to help local residents. Our message is that you must
not leave it too late to get the help and advice that is on
offer.
Keeping your home
Taking early action is particularly important if you are facing
problems paying your mortgage or you have secured loans against
your home that you are struggling to repay - you need to talk to
your lender as soon as possible:
- Take action early.
- Talk to your lender.
- Don’t ignore letters.
- Always attend court repossession hearings in person.
Where to go for advice if you are a homeowner
Schemes such as the Government's mortgage rescue scheme may help
you to keep your home. For information about these schemes and
other advice about mortgage problems follow the links below:
Financial help with mortgage or rent payments
There is an
online benefit calculator (new window) which
can give you an estimate of your entitlement to benefit.
Sale and rent back schemes
If you are considering selling your home to a company who will
rent it back to you, take your time and take independent advice
before making a decision. You will need to check how long you can
be sure of renting your home, when the rent can be raised and
whether you will be entitled to Housing Benefit.
Debt advice
If you are struggling to pay off debts, don’t bury your head in
the sand, there is advice available.
Getting help with your debts is free with debt help charity the
Consumer Credit
Counselling Service (new window). You can use their CCCS Debt
Remedy online tool to create a personalised budget and receive debt
advice tailored to your needs.
If your debt problems require a more formal appraoch, CCCS also
provide counselling to help you decide whether or not an Individual
Voluntary Arrangement (IVA),
debt management plan or debt relief order
may be necessary. All their help is completely confidential,
impartial and free of any charges.
Other sources of help and advice include:
Don’t borrow money from loan sharks - for
information follow the link below or call 0300 555
2222 to speak to someone in confidence.
Increasing your income
If your income has reduced or you have become unemployed, make
sure you claim all the benefits to which you are entitled.
If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who
normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If
you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax
Credit. For more information follow the links below or ring the tax
credits helpline on 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845
300 3909).
Try an online benefits adviser to find out what benefits and Tax
Credits you may be entitled to:
Information about benefits can also be found at:
Benefit helplines
- For people with disabilities - 0800 88 2200
(textphone 0800 24 3355).
- For advice about Pension Credits - 0800 99
1234 (textphone 0800 169 0133).
- Jobcentre Plus new and repeat benefit claims - 0800 055
6688 (textphone 0800 023 4888).
- Tax Credits - 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845
300 3909).
Relationship problems
Money worries can sometimes cause problems within the family or
relationship breakdowns. Advice and information is available
from:
Housing advice
Suffolk Coastal's Housing Options and
Benefits teams can provide information and
advice about:
If you are homeless or threatened with losing your home the
Council may have a duty to provide you with temporary and/or
permanent housing.
Other useful sources of advice and help
Looking after your health
Job insecurity, redundancy, debt and money problems can all
cause feelings of distress. When times are tough, it's quite
natural to feel worried or down. It's when these feelings go on for
weeks that they can start to affect your health and wellbeing.
The NHS Choices website has information about where to get help
if worries about money or losing your job are affecting your
health, advice on ways to combat stress and how you can spend less
on your food shopping and still eat healthily: