Making every penny count - Our guide to making the most of your money through these difficult times - Basildon ...
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Making every penny count Our guide to making the most of your money through these difficult times.
Helping you to increase your income, cut
your costs and make the most of your
money
financial statement/budget sheet
included in this pack to help.
Keeping a spending diary can also help
illustrate where savings can be made and
to check that your budget sheet is an
accurate/realistic reflection of your
spending. Some helpful hints on keeping
a spending diary and a template you can
use is also included in this booklet.
We know that some of our clients are
finding it tough at the moment with
many finding they have less income
resulting from changes to your If you find that
circumstances/work and also perhaps you’ve got less
increases in your expenditure on money coming in
household bills because we are at than you have going
home. out and you’d like a
little extra help with
Perhaps, the little extra time we’ve all
ideas on how to address this, our
gained by being at home more, has
debt and money advice specialists
inspired you to take a look at your budget
and finances and give them a check up? are here and happy to help you, just
give us a call on our Money
We have put together some information Adviceline:
that we hope will help our clients with
managing their finances at this time. 01277 358082
We’ve got a simple to use budgeting tool If you need help or support
on our website that can help you work with applying for benefits,
out/review your household budget; just grants or completing forms,
go to: please do get in touch, your local
Citizens Advice South Essex
www.citizensadvice.org.uk advisers are here for you on our
and click on the ‘Debt & Money’ Tab and
adviceline:
you’ll see a link for ‘Budgeting’ . For those
that prefer, we also have a printable
0300 330 2101
Don’t forget that we’re here to help and support you as always
Stay Safe and well
From Everyone at Citizens Advice South Essex
2 Making every penny count Making every penny count 3
Contents
Section 1: Maximise your income
06 Benefits - some general points
07 Benefits if you are sick or disabled
08 Universal Credit
09 Are you paying too much tax?
10 Help with your rent or mortgage Services in:
11 Help with your Council Tax
12 Are others paying enough?
• Basildon
Section 2: Reduce your costs • Billericay
• Castle Point
14 Save money on your energy bills • Rayleigh
16 Save money on your water bills
• Rochford
17 Save money on household goods and services
18 Save money on TV, phone and internet services • Thurrock
19 Cutting out costs you want to avoid • Wickford
Section 3: Help with other costs
20 Children
22 Help with health care costs
24 Grants advances and loans
26 Money in an emergency
Adviceline: 0300 330 2101
Section 4: Organise your money Billericay Adviceline: 01277 358080
27 Keeping a spending diary Help to Claim: 0800 144 8444
29 My spending diary (help to apply for Universal Credit)
30 Budget sheet
31 Prioritising your bills Money Advice Helpline: 01277 358082
33 Coronavirus Support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk www.facebook.com/CASouthEssex
Published May 2020
© Citizens Advice South Essex 2020 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/south-essex/ twitter.com/CASouthEssex
Company Registration Number 05596895
Registered Charity Number 1113231
FCA Authorisation Number: FRN617500
4 Making every penny count Making every penny count 5Maximising
Benefits - some your income Benefits if you are sick
general points or disabled
When we help people who have debt problems, one of our first jobs is to If you are sick or disabled, there are a • If you are unable to work, you may be
make sure that all the available benefits and entitlements are being number of different benefits and tax able to claim Statutory Sick Pay or
claimed. credits you may be able to claim: Employment and Support Allowance
It makes sense therefore, even before you run into financial difficulties, to make sure • If you were injured at work or have an
you have done this yourself. On this page, there’s information about some of the online • If you are aged 16-64 and you've a industrial disease caused by work,
tools and services that can help you with this. long-term health condition or you may get benefits
disability that affects your ability to
You might need our advice though. We provide a range of services to talk you through live independently, you may be able • If you were injured serving in the
your entitlements, and in some cases actively assist you in making a claim. to claim Personal Independence Armed Forces, you may get benefits
Payment
Working out before hand what you could claim, that you don’t currently is the first step • If you care for someone who is
to ensure your income is as high as it can be. • If you are under 16 and you've a disabled, you may be able to claim
health condition or disability that Carer’s Allowance
means you've more care or
supervision needs than other children
your age, you may be able to claim
Disability Living Allowance
Help from us
• If you are 65 or over and you've care
Get in touch on our local Adviceline:
needs, you may be able to claim
0300 330 2101
Attendance Allowance
We also have a dedicated team helping
clients to apply for Universal Credit –
called Help to Claim, just call
0800 144 8444
For more information on help available if you are
sick or disabled, and how to claim, visit:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
(Link opens in section)
Help yourself online There is a wide range of disability related financial
If you're over 18 you can use the Turn2us or support available - gov.uk have a guide available
Entitledto benefit calculators to check which to help:
benefits you can get. You'll need www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled
information about savings, income,
pension, childcare payments and any
existing benefits (for you and your partner).
Turn2us:
www.turn2us.org.uk Need help from us?
Entitledto: See page 5 for how to
www.entitledto.co.uk contact us
6 Making every penny count Making every penny count 7Universal Credit Are you paying too
much tax?
Universal Credit is replacing the Universal Credit can only be paid directly Check the tax code on your wage slip You can also check your
following benefits and tax credits with into a bank, building society, or credit entitlement to allowances and
Your tax code is used by your employer
one single monthly payment: union account, so it is therefore reliefs at: www.litrg.org.uk/
or pension provider to work out how
important that you have such an account.
much Income Tax to take from your pay
• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance or pension. HM Revenue and Customs National Insurance and tax after
If you are a tenant, your landlord will no State Pension age
• Income-related Employment and longer receive the housing element (HMRC) will tell them which code to use
directly as payment of your rent. It will to collect the right tax. You can check You don’t pay National Insurance after
• Support Allowance
therefore be your responsibility to make your Income Tax online to see: you reach State Pension age - unless
• Income Support you’re self-employed and paying Class 4
sure your rent is paid on time. • what your tax code is
• Housing Benefit contributions. You only pay Income Tax if
• if your tax code has changed
• Working Tax Credits your taxable income - including your
• how your tax code is worked out
• Child Tax Credit private pension and State Pension - is
• how much tax you’re likely to pay
more than your tax-free allowances (the
In practice, if you receive earnings or an amount of income you’re allowed before
occupational pension, this income is you pay tax).
taxed through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
For more information visit:
Open a bank account Start saving system, please see our fact-sheet
www.gov.uk/tax-national-insurance-after-
Make sure you have a bank Make sure you have some For further information:
savings to fall back on in state-pension-age
account which allows you to
receive payments case your circumstances www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-
electronically and make change and you need to money/tax/how-to-pay-income-tax/the-
make a claim in the future. pay-as-you-earn-paye-system/ Claiming a tax refund
payments for your bills via Local credit unions provide
Direct Debit. ethical savings accounts. If you want to check that you are paying You may be able to get a tax refund
the right amount of tax, or if you think (rebate) if you’ve paid too much tax. Use
you may have overpaid or underpaid tax, this service to see how to claim if you
you should contact HMRC on the Tax paid too much on:
Get access to the internet Make a budget plan Helpline, 0300 200 3300
• pay from your current or previous job
Set up an email account and Look at the back of this
booklet for details • pension payments
find out where you can
access the internet for free. • income from a life or pension annuity
Income Tax allowances and amounts
internet. • a redundancy payment
Most taxpayers living in the UK on a day- • a Self Assessment tax return
to-day basis are entitled to Personal • savings interest
Allowance. If you're married or in a civil • foreign income
partnership you may be able to claim • UK income if you live abroad
Marriage Allowance or Married Couple's • costs or work clothing for your job
Allowance as well. Some taxpayers can
also claim Blind Person's Allowance. For further information visit:
Need help from us? Please see our fact-sheet
www.gov.uk/claim-tax-refund
We have a dedicated team helping clients For further information:
to apply for Universal Credit – called Help www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
to Claim, just call 0800 144 8444
(Link opens in section)
8 Making every penny count Making every penny count 9Help with your rent or mortgage Help with your Council Tax
Housing Benefit and Universal Credit For further information visit: Council Tax Reduction (also known as Rayleigh & Rochford
Council Tax Support)
You might be able to get Housing Benefit Basildon: www.rochford.gov.uk
to help pay your rent if you’re on a low Council Tax Reduction/Support can be
www.basildon.gov.uk/hardship (Link opens in section)
income or you claim benefits - but most claimed in addition to Universal Credit.
people have to claim Universal Credit Thurrock: Check your eligibility to make a Brentwood
instead. www.thurrock.gov.uk/ backdated claim at the same time: www.brentwood.gov.uk/
You should check if you can get Housing www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ index.php?cid=123
(Link opens in section)
Benefit before you apply:
Rayleigh & Rochford: (Link opens in section)
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ Discounts or Exemptions
www.rochford.gov.uk To use your Council’s online calculator to
(Link opens in section)
see how much help you can get and to Please check if any other discounts or
(Link opens in section) make a claim, please visit: exemptions apply to your household for
Discretionary Housing Payments Brentwood: Basildon Council Tax:
Extra financial help for those in receipt of www.brentwood.gov.uk/ www.basildon.gov.uk/support www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/
Housing Benefit OR Universal Credit - a council-tax/council-tax/
(Link opens in section) Thurrock
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
can help with rent or housing costs. You www.thurrock.gov.uk
Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP)
can apply for extra help if the amount of Support for Mortgage Interest (Link opens in section)
Housing Benefit is less than the rent you Extra financial help for those in receipt of
have to pay. The award of a DHP is meant If you’re a homeowner, you might be able Rayleigh & Rochford Housing Benefit OR Universal Credit – an
to be a short term solution to help you to get help towards interest payments on: Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP) can
www.rochfordctr.entitledto.co.uk/home/
find cheaper accommodation or look at • your mortgage start help with Council Tax costs if the amount
ways of improving and managing your • loans you’ve taken out for certain of Local Council Tax Support is less than
finances. How much you get depends on repairs and improvements to your Brentwood the Council Tax you have to pay. The
the circumstances of your household. home www.brentwood.gov.uk/ award of an EHP is meant to be a short
term solution to help you look at ways of
This help is called Support for Mortgage (Link opens in section) improving and managing your finances.
Interest (SMI). It’s paid as a loan, which How much you get depends on the
25% Single Persons Discount
you’ll need to repay with interest when circumstances of your household:
you sell or transfer ownership of your A property which is the main residence of
home. You usually need to be getting, or only one adult is entitled to a 25% Council
treated as getting, a qualifying benefit to Tax Single Person Discount. To apply Basildon
get SMI. There’s no guarantee that you’ll online:
get SMI for a mortgage or loan you take www.basildon.gov.uk/hardship
Basildon
out. For further information visit: Rayleigh & Rochford
www.basildon.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage- www.rochford.gov.uk
interest Thurrock
(Link opens in section)
www.thurrock.gov.uk
Brentwood
Need help from us? (Link opens in section)
www.brentwood.gov.uk/
See page 5 for how to contact index.php?cid=2678
us
10 Making every penny count Making every penny count 11Are others paying you enough? Worried about debt?
Contact our Money Advice team for advice and support 01277 358082 or email:
moneyadvice@citizensadvicesouthessex.org.uk
Child Maintenance This is called child maintenance.
Sometimes it's also called child
Taking in a lodger or renting a room in you house
support.
Both parents are legally responsible enquiry line on 0300 200 3310, about
Child maintenance usually takes the
for the financial costs of bringing up the ‘rent-a-room scheme’, which allows
form of regular financial payments
their children. you to receive rental income up to a
towards the child's everyday living
costs. Depending on your certain limit, tax-free. You will usually
circumstances, you can either arrange also need your landlord’s or mortgage
this yourselves or use a government lender’s permission to do this, as your
scheme. tenancy or mortgage arrangement
might not allow you to rent rooms out.
To check the amount of child
maintenance payments you are To find out more:
receiving: Taking in a lodger:
www.gov.uk/calculate-your-child- www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
If you split up, the parent who doesn’t maintenance
have the main day-to-day care of the Do you have a spare room in your (Link opens in section)
To find out more about your options
children, may have to pay money to for arranging child maintenance home that you could rent out? You will Rent a room your home:
the person looking after the children. payments: www.cmoptions.org/ need to check to see how this would
affect any benefits you are claiming www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home
and also check your tax position (you
can call the self-assessment general
Grown Up children or other relatives living in your
home
If you have grown up children or other are being taken from their Housing If you have a driveway, check if you
relatives living in your home, make Benefit or Universal Credit. Rent out a parking space may be able to earn additional
sure that they are paying a fair income by renting it out as a parking
Others may use their household
contribution towards the household space:
budget to equally share the bills.
costs.
Comparethemarket.com also have www.moneysavingexpert.com/
launched the Pa-rental Meter, an shopping/cheap-parking-rental
online calculator that does the At this time whilst many people are
maths for you. It’s a practical guide using their cars less and considering
based on your postcode and breaks SORN to reduce their road tax bill,
down the total into rent, food, gas and you may be able to rent space on
electricity. While aimed at parents, it your drive to allow someone to take
could also come in handy if you’re their vehicle off-road to comply with
Some households work this out using looking to rent out a spare room to a SORN regulations
the ‘non dependent deductions’ that lodger in your home too.
12 Making every penny count Making every penny count 13Reduce your
Save money on your costs
energy bills
Warm Homes Essex
Warm Homes Essex is a new service established by the Citizens Advice offices
You have a choice in who you buy your gas and electricity from. You also have a choice in Essex working together. Here at South Essex Citizens Advice we have
in how you pay for it. You can save a lot of money by shopping around, particularly if employed two energy advice specialists to offer our clients holistic support to
you have not changed your energy supplier for several years. But there’s more you can help them to afford to heat their homes more easily.
do to ensure you can always afford the cost of heating and lighting your home. Here’s
our introduction. You may have high heating costs as a result of a health condition, or because your
house is draughty and loses a lot of heat, or your boiler is old and inefficient.
Citizens Advice in Essex can help:
Switching Suppliers Cold Weather Payments
• Maximising your income to make sure you are receiving all the benefits you are
You may be able to save money by Cold Weather Payments are one-off entitled to
switching to a different supplier. There payments to help you pay for extra • Helping you with fuel debt – if you have already fallen into arrears (in some
are a number of price-comparison heating costs when it’s very cold. You’ll cases we can apply to trusts and foundations to help pay these off – giving you a
websites you can use to see if switching get a payment each time the temperature fresh start)
suppliers can save you money on your drops below a specific temperature for a • Energy saving around the home
fuel bills. For more information on how to set period of time. • Energy tariffs - are you on the best one for you?
switch suppliers see our factsheet: • Access to grants for energy saving improvements – we can help you find the
You’ll only be eligible if you already get:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ best scheme and help you apply
• Pension Credit • Access to emergency fuel payments
energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-
• Income Support • We can also provide free energy saving devices around the home.
energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier/
• Income-based
• Job Seeker's Allowance www.warmhomesessex.org.uk/get-in-touch/
Benefits, grants and help offered by • Income-related Employment and
the government and energy suppliers Support
• Universal Credit Warm Home Discount Scheme following energy companies offer grants
If you’re struggling to afford your energy
For further information: and schemes that are open to anyone -
bills, you might be able to take advantage You might be able to get money off your
you don't have to be a customer:
of certain benefits, grants and help www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/ electricity bill under the Warm Home
offered by the government and energy further-information Discount Scheme if you’re getting either: British Gas Energy Trust
suppliers. the guarantee credit part of Pension
There are also companies who offer
Credit or you’re on a low income
For further information, please see our grants specifically for their customers:
factsheet: Check with your supplier to see if they
• npower Energy Fund
offer the Warm Home Discount - not all
www.citizensadvice.org.uk • Scottish Power Hardship Fund
suppliers are part of the scheme.
• Ovo Energy Fund
(Link opens in section)
For further information: • E.on Energy Fund
• EDF Energy Trust
www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-
Winter Fuel Payments • SSE (Southern Electric) Priority
scheme
Assistance Fund - check if you're
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual eligible by calling 0800 072 8616
one-off payment to help you pay for Grants to help pay off your energy
heating during the winter. You can When you apply for a grant, you'll have to
debts provide detailed information about your
usually get a Winter Fuel Payment if you
were born on or before 5 August 1953. If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, financial situation in your application. It
you might be able to get a grant from a could take a while to complete, and it
www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment charitable trust to help pay it off. The might be worth getting help applying.
14 Making every penny count Making every penny count 15Save money on your water bills Saving money on household
goods and services
Spread your bill payments Anglian Water Money Saving tips & advice FREE & recycled household goods and
furniture
Ask you water supplier to spread your bill www.anglianwater.co.uk/account- A range of websites provide some great
payments over a longer period, up to 12 and-bill/tariffs-and-charges/lite/ ways for saving money on your The following websites offer free recycled
months, to reduce the amount you pay household goods and expenses, you can goods such as furniture and white goods:
Essex and Suffolk Water
each month. also sign-up to newsletters to notify you Freecycle
www.eswater.co.uk/supportplus of a whole range of great offers:
my.freecycle.org/
Watersure scheme - help with paying Recycled goods for free
water bills Water meters USwitch:
Freegle
Watersure is a scheme which helps some Could a water meter bring down your www.uswitch.com/
people with their water bills. To apply for costs? Use the following calculator on the www.ilovefreegle.org/
Consumer Council for Water’s (CCW) Money Saving Expert:
the scheme, you must be on benefits and Recycled goods for free
need to use a lot of water either for website to find out. www.moneysavingexpert.com/
medical reasons or because your For further information: Gumtree
Which?
household has a certain number of www.ccwater.org.uk/ www.gumtree.com/
school-age children. You also need to be watermetercalculator/ www.which.co.uk/money/money-saving-
on a water meter or be waiting to have tips Search ‘Free stuff’
one installed. To find out more about Money Advice Service: Furniture Re-use Network
Watersure and whether you can apply for
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk www.reuse-network.org.uk/
the scheme visit:
(Link opens in section) Recycled furniture
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
(Link opens in section) Lovemoney.com
Low-Income Water Tariff (including advice on the best
supermarket deals each week etc.):
You may be eligible for a low-income
water tariff from: www.lovemoney.com/Topics/household-
money
Had a problem with
goods or services?
The Citizens Advice consumer
Worried about debt? service is a national helpline that
can give you advice is you on your
Contact our Money Advice team for advice rights as a consumer
and support 01277 358082 or email:
moneyadvice@citizensadvicesouthessex.org.uk 0808 223 1133
16 Making every penny count Making every penny count 17Saving money on TV, phone Cutting out costs you want
and internet services to avoid
TV Licence www.ofcom.org.uk/ Giving up smoking Find out about the health benefits of
reducing your alcohol intake and get tips
You can get a free TV licence if you’re (Link opens in section) Giving up smoking is not easy, but will
on cutting down.
aged 75 or over and a discount if you’re help you save money as well as greatly
blind/severely sight-impaired or in Cheap Home Phones improve your health and well being. The For further information:
residential care: NHS have a free service to help people
For loads of great ideas on how to reduce www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/
become smoke-fee.
www.gov.uk/free-discount-tv-licence the cost of your home phone, check out
MoneySavingExpert’s guide: For further information:
Mobile Phone Contracts www.nhs.uk/smokefree
www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/
Are you getting the best deal on your home-phone-calls/ Reducing Alcohol intake
mobile phone contract? If you need help
finding a better deal try visiting Switch Suppliers
MoneySavingExpert’s guides at: Use price-comparison websites to find
www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/ the best deals. For further information on Gambling trained advisers can put you in touch
how to switch read our guide at: with face-to-face counselling services
There are also price comparison sites Gambling problems often make debt in your area.
available at OfCom approved price www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ problems worse, and vice versa.
Borrowing more money to pay for Support Groups - Many people find
comparison sites: (Link opens in section)
gambling can make your debts confidential peer support groups like
increase, while struggling to keep on Gamblers Anonymous or SMART
top of your increasing debts can be a Recovery help to keep their gambling
trigger for more gambling. There isn’t problems under control. If you need
Reducing your travel costs a one-size-fits-all solution to gambling advice on finding a group that helps
problems, and different approaches you, ask GamCare or your GP.
work for different people:
There are a range of schemes available to www.essexhighways.org/
Speak to your GP, especially if your
help with the costs of transport for
(Link opens in section) gambling problem is affecting your
concessionary bus travel; railcards;
health and mood. Your GP can discuss
support for young people and support for
what options are available in your
the unemployed: Travel to School / College area, for example cognitive
www.gov.uk You may be eligible for help with behavioural therapy (CBT), a form of
(Link opens in section) transport to school. talking therapy that many people find
effective
www.essex.gov.uk/school-transport/who-
qualifies-for-home-to-school-transport Contact Gamcare: If you prefer to
Free Bus Travel for older and disabled speak to someone anonymously,
people
contact GamCare. They offer support
In Essex, eligible older and disabled Find cheaper fuel and counselling online, or over the
people are entitled to free bus travel phone on 0808 8020 133, every day
between 9am and midnight Mon-Fri and Compare petrol/diesel prices by visiting: from 8am to midnight. GamCare’s
all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. www.petrolprices.com
For further information and how to apply
go to Essex County Council’s website:
18 Making every penny count Making every penny count 19Help with
Children other costs Worried about debt?
Contact our Money Advice team for advice and support 01277 358082 or email:
moneyadvice@citizensadvicesouthessex.org.uk
Child care costs • Income Support
• Income-based Job seeker's Allowance
A range of help is available for help with
• Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax
childcare costs, including the child care
Credit), with an annual income of
element of working tax credits; tax-free
below £16,190
childcare; childcare vouchers; free
• Pension Guarantee Credit
childcare etc.
• Income related Employment and Healthy Start
For more information: Support Allowance, income related Food vouchers and vitamins for
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/ • Support under the Immigration and expectant and new mothers of children
Asylum Act, 1999 up to 4 years old, on a low income. To
(Link opens in new section) • Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 find out more and see if you’re eligible
weeks after you stop qualifying for visit:
Free School Meals
• Working Tax Credit www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
The criteria to receive free school meals • Universal Credit, with an income of Healthy Start helpline: 0845 607 6823
are set by central government. £7,400 or less
An award can only be provided where a To apply visit the Essex County Council Sure Start Maternity Grant
parent/carer/child receives: website at:
A one-off payment to help towards the
www.essex.gov.uk costs of maternity and baby items. To
find out more and see if you’re eligible
(Link opens in new section) visit:
www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant
Essex County Council Family
Information Service
For free and impartial advice for
parents about finding childcare, the
free early education entitlement and
other family services for 0-19 year olds
and individuals up to 25 years with
Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities (SEND), including Essex
Short Breaks programme visit:
www.essex.gov.uk
(Link opens in news section)
Need help from us?
See page 5 for how to contact us
20 Making every penny count Making every penny count 21Help with health care costs
Check what help you could get to pay time as you apply for the scheme. For You can buy prescription prepayment more prescriptions in 12 months, it may
for NHS costs further information visit: certificates (PPCs) from the NHS which be cheaper to buy a PPC. You can pay in
Although most NHS treatment is free, For further information and to apply: may make your prescriptions cheaper. 10 monthly instalments if you buy a 12
there is usually a charge for: A 3 or 12 month PPC covers all your month PPC. You can buy PPCs online or
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low- prescriptions for that period, no matter call the order line and pay by debit or
• NHS prescriptions income-scheme
• NHS dental check-ups and treatment how many you need. A prescription credit card: 0300 330 1341
• sight tests costs £8.60 per item, but a PPC costs:
• new glasses or contact lenses Travel costs to NHS appointments • £29.65 for 3 months
• repairing or replacing glasses or • £105.90 for 12 months
If you're referred to hospital or other NHS
contact lenses
premises for specialist NHS treatment or This means if you’re going to buy 4 or
• NHS wigs
diagnostic tests by your doctor, dentist or more prescriptions in 3 months, or 14 or
• NHS fabric supports – things like
another primary care health professional,
surgical bras, support tights and
you may be able to claim a refund of
spinal supports
reasonable travel costs under the
• travel for NHS treatment
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
You could be entitled to help with these Need help from us?
For more information:
costs depending on your circumstances.
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help- See page for how to contact us
To use the online calculator:
with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-
https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-for- scheme-htcs/
help-paying-nhs-costs/start
Health Costs and Universal Credit
NHS Low Income Scheme
There are specific eligibility criteria for
The amount of help you’re entitled to health care costs if you are on Universal
depends on your household income and Credit. It is important that you check
outgoings. Anyone can apply as long as whether and what you may be entitled to
they don't have savings or investments by regularly checking your journal, if you
over a certain limit. You can't get help if claim when you’re not entitled, this can
you or your partner (or both) have more result in a £100 fine.
than:
For further information:
• £16,000 in savings, investments or
www.nhs.uk/
property (not including the place
where you live) (Link opens in new section)
• £23,250 in savings, investments or
property if you live permanently in a
care home
Some people can now apply online for
the NHS Low Income Scheme.
If you have already paid for treatment,
you can apply for a refund at the same
22 Making every penny count Making every penny count 23Grants, advances and loans
Universal Credit budgeting advance Support Allowance Trade Unions / Professional Bodies For further information:
• Pension Credit If you’ve ever been a member of a Trade
You might be able to get a loan as part of www.grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
your Universal Credit if you need to cover For more information: Union or Professional Body, they may
have a hardship fund you can apply to for Local Charities
a specific expense - this is called a financial assistance.
www.gov.uk/budgeting-help-benefits
'budgeting advance'. Lenderhand is a charity that provides
Charity and Grant search: find out families and individuals living in
If you get a budgeting advance, you'll get Grants for Home adaptations and aids what you can get Essex with assistance by paying for goods
reduced Universal Credit payments until for the disabled
The Turn2Us website has a charity grants or services that they could not otherwise
you've paid off the amount you borrow.
Basildon Building Consultancy is an search that can help you to look for funds afford, providing a helping hand through
This will normally be over 12 months. You
agency offered by the Building Control that might be able to give you a grant the challenging periods of their lives:
can apply for a budgeting advance to
Service to help guide people seeking and/or other types of help (including help
cover things like: For further information:
grants to adapt their properties for with the costs/fees to apply for a DRO/
• a one-off item - e.g. replacing a disabled use. Alterations are commonly Bankruptcy): www.lenderhand.org/
broken fridge required to improve disabled access to
• unexpected expenses - e.g. an the property and to add a stair lift and/or
unexpected bill bathroom conversion. In some cases
• work-related expenses - e.g. buying other more specific adaptations are
uniform or tools required. If your home needs to be
• repairs to your home adapted for disabled use further
• travel expenses information is available at:
• maternity expenses
Basildon:
• funeral expenses
• moving costs or rent deposit www.basildon.gov.uk/article/785/Home-
• essential items, like clothes adaptations-and-aids-for-the-disabled
For more information: Help Line - 01268 207895
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ or Email: disabledgrants@basildon.gov.uk
(Link opens in new section) Thurrock:
www.thurrock.gov.uk/home-adaptations-
Budgeting Loan and-equipment/disabled-facilities-grant
(if you are not on Universal Credit but Help line – 01375 511000
another eligible benefit) or Email: thurrock.first@thurrock.gov.uk
If you are not on Universal Credit, you Rayleigh & Rochford:
may be able to get a budgeting loan
which is available for the same types of www.rochford.gov.uk/
specific expenses as you would get for a (Link opens in section)
budgeting advance. To get a Budgeting
Loan you must have been getting one or Brentwood:
more of these benefits for the past 6 www.brentwood.gov.uk/
Need help from us?
months:
(Link opens in section) See page 5 for how to contact us
• Income Support
• Income-based Job seeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and
24 Making every penny count Making every penny count 25Organise your
Money in an emergency Keeping a spending Diary money
Food Banks • applying through your online account Why should I complete a spending diary?
• calling the Universal Credit helpline:
You can talk to us at Citizens Advice if you Completing a spending diary helps you to get a picture of your overall spending from
0800 328 5644
need help with a referral to a food bank. week to week. We don’t always remember every penny we spend. For example, you
might pop into a shop to pick up a newspaper or a soft drink; or you might give the
Call us on: 0300 330 2101 children the odd £1 to buy sweets. It is this type of spending that often goes unnoticed,
Extra Help if you’re on benefits or your
Alternatively, you can search online for benefits have stopped and sometimes we forget about it. And it all adds up! So if you want to control your
you local foodbanks at The Trussell Trust: money, then you first need to know where it goes. The Spending Diary will help you
If your benefit payments aren't giving you with this and may also help you find places where you can cut spending.
For further information: enough to live on, you might be able to
www.trusselltrust.org/ get help from your local council or an
interest-free loan from the government. If
you're struggling while waiting for your
Short-term benefit advances payments to start, you might be able to
get your benefit paid early. How will I fill out the Diary?
Advances of benefit may be available
from the DWP, if you are waiting for Fill in your diary every day listing where you spent money or gave money to the
benefit to be paid and you’re in financial For more information visit: children etc. At the end of each day, you will know how much you spent. When
need. You can ask for an advance you add this up, every week or over a number of weeks, you can begin to get a
payment of Universal Credit by: www.citizensadvice.org.uk picture of where your money goes. If you don’t carry the diary with you all of the
(Link opens in section) time to write down your spending as it happens, then the best way to keep track
• asking your work coach at your first of what you are spending is to keep your receipts. Use a clear pocket in your
Universal Credit interview wallet to store your receipts and at the end of the day, transfer the information
into the spending diary. The great thing about this is that if you forget to do it
one evening, you will have the receipts there to help you remember.
Important If you are in financial difficulty it can
What if I forget how much I spent on something?
be tempting to reach out to people
Should I just make up a figure?
you know in the local community who
might help. Pay special attention to No. A budget will only work if you are totally honest with yourself, so if you have a
the danger of loan sharks - these good idea of the cost then write it down. If not, then leave it out. Over a four week
are unlicensed lenders who work in period, you will get a very good view of your spending anyway.
local communities to lend at
extortionate interest rates. Borrowing
from them is always a bad idea.
Find out more at What if I forget to do it for a few days?
www.stoploansharks.co.uk
That’s OK. Although it would be great to do it all the time, we might lose some
receipts or other things might get in the way of filling it in every day. If you
stop using the diary, forget it or simply find it too hard to use, don’t worry or
panic, just start back up again when you’re able. It will get easier.
26 Making every penny count Making every penny count 27My Daily Spending Diary
My Spending Date Item Amount Cash/Card/Contactless
You can of course start on any day
you wish - just remember to start a
new diary each day. Write down all
figures for all spending, no matter
how small. There will be lots of times
when you spend money on items
which are not regular and this might What do I do at the
not seem important. end of each week?
Here is just a sample list of “bits and When you have completed your
pieces” of spending that might crop diaries for the week, use the figures
up unexpectedly: for each day to create totals for
‘Weekly Outgoings’, which you can
popping in to the shop for a few complete on the Financial Statement
groceries; meeting a friend for a cup Sheet that we initially used to create
of coffee; buying sweets or treats for your budget. There are a lot of
the children; getting petrol/diesel for categories here, but many of the
the car; buying a new tyre for the car; categories do not change from week
buying small items of clothing; buying to week. Add up all the daily figures
newspapers; getting phone credit; for these items individually and put
medical expenses; unexpected school down the total weekly cost in the
expenses; putting loose change into relevant category. When you have
the charity bucket at the supermarket transferred all these figures, add up
the total for ‘Total Expenditure’.
Top tip
Do this every week for four weeks
and then at the end, you should
have a good picture of where your Total
money goes
28 Making every penny count - Citizens Advice Soth Essex Making every penny count 29A budget sheet to help Prioritising your bills
you deal with creditors
If you have more going out than you have depending on the action they can take to
coming in, it is important to make sure recover money from you. Usually debts
that you prioritise your bill payments to are either a priority or a non priority debt.
cover your essential and priorities before
you deal with non-priority spending. To What are priority debts?
help you to understand what to prioritise,
below explains the consequences of non- Most creditors will need to take court
payment: action to recover any money that is owed.
A priority creditor can take action that
What can a creditor do if I can’t pay? means you could lose your essential
supplies (such as gas or electricity) or
A creditor is someone you owe money to. essential services and goods, lose your
There are different types of creditors; home or be sent to prison.
some are more important than others
30 Making every penny count Making every penny count 31Some non priority debts could be considered as priorities depending on your
Important circumstances or the creditors action. If you receive any forms or letters from
a magistrates, county court or high court, please contact your adviser
immediately as there could be a time limit involved. Coronavirus Financial Support - summary
This information covers England and Wales and is up to date at November
2018. For further information go to:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/
Are you receiving correct https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/
Worried about debt? benefit entitlements: coronavirus-check-what-benefits-you-can-get
Contact our Money Advice team for advice and support 01277 358082 or email:
moneyadvice@citizensadvicesouthessex.org.uk
What you can do if you can’t https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/if-
pay your bills: you-cant-pay-your-bills-because-of-coronavirus
What can you do if you can’t pay your Below is a template letter we are
bills because of Coronavirus? providing to clients to contact their
creditors if they can’t currently pay their
The Government and Financial Conduct debts and need to request a hold on
Authority have set out to help people with action and freeze on interest and charges.
borrowing who may not be to maintain If you do contact us for debt and money You may be able to get help https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-
their contractual repayments at this time. advice we can issue you with a client from a food bank: a-low-income/using-a-food-bank
Citizens Advice have put together a reference number to use to notify your
factsheet to help understand our Debt & creditors that you are receiving advice
Money advice section on our website: from us:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Essential Living Fund https://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200288/
Check if you can apply for a extra_financial_help/69/essential_living_fund
grant for help with living
Dear Sir/Madam expenses
Account No: [enter your account reference number here]
Local Authority Specific Information
I am writing to tell you that I am getting advice from Citizens Advice on dealing with
my financial situation and choosing the right debt solution for me (my Citizens
Advice Reference Number: __________).
Basildon Council Check if you can receive assistance with Council
Tax
As a result of the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) my circumstances have https://www.basildon.gov.uk/ctr
changed and are likely to continue to change at the moment. This means that it will https://www.basildon.gov.uk/article/5478/Council-Tax-
take longer than normal for me to produce an accurate budget to receive full Payment-Assistance
advice.
If you already receive Council Tax Assistance, you
Therefore, please hold action on the above and please freeze any interest and/or may receive a further reduction of up to £150:
charges that are being added. I will be in touch as soon as I am able to get the https://www.basildon.gov.uk/article/7968/COVID-19-
advice I need. Will-I-receive-a-Council-Tax-reduction
Thank you for your understanding and I hope to hear from you soon. Apply for discretionary and exceptional hardship
payments (this is limited and depends on
(Please note, all further correspondence should be addressed to me. Citizens individual circumstances)
https://www.basildon.gov.uk/hardship
Advice are advising me, but are not acting as my representative).
Grants and rate discounts for business:
https://www.basildon.gov.uk/article/7952/COVID-19-
Yours faithfully Grants-and-rates-discounts-for-business
32 Making every penny count Making every penny count 33Coronavirus Financial Support - summary Coronavirus Financial Support - summary
Brentwood Council For information on: Thurrock Council New Council Tax bills:
Hardship Funds (Council Tax) and discretionary Thurrock Council will send new council tax bills
housing payments (this is limited and based on automatically to anyone claiming council tax support.
individual circumstances) These will show up to a £150 maximum reduction in
the bill due to money paid from the government’s
https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/index.php?cid=2678 Coronavirus Hardship Relief fund.
If you are waiting for a Council Tax Support
Business Support - Advice and Funding Assessment, you are able to defer making payments
Apply for help with Council Tax Support Scheme towards your current council tax bill until your
Customers in receipt of Council Tax Reduction will application has been assessed.
receive a further reduction of their council tax bill of
up to a maximum of £150.00 Universal Credit claimants can apply for a discount of
www.brentwood.gov.uk up to 75% on their council tax bill.
www.thurrock.gov.uk/council-tax-support/local-
Castle Point Council For information on: council-tax-support
Check if you are eligible for help with Council Tax Help for self-employed workers during this period
Support Thurrock Council are offering to help self-employed
You may be able to request a Council Tax payment workers by allowing council tax payments towards
holiday their current year’s bill to be deferred until July 2020.
You may be entitled to a Discretionary Housing If you are registered as self-employed and would like
Payment (DHP) – this is limited and based on to accept this offer of not paying council tax until July,
individual circumstances you can apply online:
Business Support – Grants and Funding www.thurrock.gov.uk/paying-your-council-tax/
coronavirus-covid-19-financial-assistance-for-self-
www.castlepoint.gov.uk/benefits-latest-information employed
Rochford Council For information on:
Discretionary housing payments and exceptional
hardship payments (this is limited and based on
individual circumstances)
www.rochford.gov.uk/benefits/financial-help-and-
money-advice
Business Support – Grants and Funding
www.rochford.gov.uk/business-rates-support-during-
covid-19
Check your eligibility for help with Council Tax
Support Scheme
Customers in receipt of Council Tax Reduction will
receive a further reduction of their council tax bill of
up to a maximum of £150.00
www.rochford.gov.uk
34 Making every penny count Making every penny count 35Citizens Advice helps people find a way forward. We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. For everyone, for 80 years. Published May 2020 © Citizens Advice South Essex 2020 Company Registration Number 05596895 Registered Charity Number 1113231 FCA Authorisation Number: FRN617500
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