Money Issues

Are you are on a low income or benefits? Here are some organizations that can help with money worries.

Welfare, Benefits & Debt Support

CAP Debt Help

Face to Face debt support. Book a free appointment.

Every Pound Counts

Free welfare and benefits advice forLambeth residents with a disability or long term health condition. Telephone (Ask for Every Pound Counts) or email support.

Food Bank Advice Drop-In: West Dulwich Hub

Centre 70 and Brixton Advice Centre offer a Foodbank Advice Drop-In session with benefit and debt advice, and form filling. In partnership with Norwood & Brixton Food Bank.

  • Thursday 11am-2pm
  • Emmanuel Community Centre, 96 Clive Road, London, SE21 8BU

Food Bank Advice Drop-in: Sreatham Common Hub

Brixton Advice Centre and Centre 70 offer a Foodbank Advice Drop-In session with benefit and debt advice, and form filling. In partnership with Norwood & Brixton Food Bank.

  • Tuesday 12pm-2pm
  • Immanuel & St. Andrews Church, 452 Streatham High Rd, London, SW16 3NN

Money A&E

Telephone support to help you manage debt and money issues. Spanish and English speaking. Email to make an appointment.

Oasis Advice Centre

Free, independent debt, advice, and immigration support. Complete online form for support or call. Free, in-person immigration drop-in session on Tuesdays 1.30-3.30pm.

PayPlan

Telephone support to help you manage debt and money issues. They can help with contacting people you owe money to and arranging lower payments to make things more affordable.

  • Monday to Friday 8am-8pm
    Saturday 9am-3pm
  • 0800 316 1833
  • payplan.com

Step Change

Free telephone and online debt and budgeting advice and support.

  • Monday to Friday 8am-8pm
    Saturday 9am-2pm
  • 0800 138 1111
  • stepchange.org

Trussell Trust Help Through Hardship Line

Help Through Hardship can do benefits and grants checks, so you can find out what you are eligible for. They can also guide you through any claims and help you with emergency issues.

Turn2us

Turn2us has an online benefits calculator, grant finder, and other tools to help you find financial help. Use online form to contact them.

Utility Bills Support

Big London Energy Switch

Big London Energy Switch is an independent energy switching scheme. Residents can sign up for cheap energy offers.

British Gas Energy Trust

Individuals and Families Fund is open to customers of all suppliers to clear domestic gas and electricity debts. Before applying to the Trust applicants must get money or debt advice.

Money Saving Expert - Energy Hardship Funds

Money Saving Expert has compiled a list of energy suppliers offering hardship grants for people experiencing fuel debt.

Thames Water Flexible Payments

If you are struggling financially, Thames Water can help. They have set up a 'flexible payment period' to either pause or reduce your payments. For more information, visit their flexible payments information page.

WaterSure & WaterHelp

Thames Water offers two schemes to help low income families reduce the cost of their water bills. Households in London with income less than £21,749 can get a 50% discount from their water bills.

EMERGENCY FUEL VOUCHERS & SUPPORT

The energy crisis has come as a shock to us all. The organisations below may be able to provide emergency energy vouchers to top-up pre-payment meters:

National Debt Line: 0808 808 4000 Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm & Saturday 9.30am-1pm

StepChange: 0800 138 1111 Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm & Saturday 8am-4pm

Citizen's Advice Extra Help Unit: If you have no supply, or about to run out of emergency credit and need some help talking to your energy supplier, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. Explain your situation and ask for The Extra Help Unit. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (not Bank Holidays)

**Please note that different organisations have different policies about who is eligible and how to apply. These may also change.

Saving & Banking

London Mutual Credit Union

The credit union offers an alternative to high street banking. They promote saving and affordable loans.

Grants & Support Scheme

BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme

The programme provides items for children like a bed to sleep in, a cooker to provide a hot meal, and other items or services critical to a child’s wellbeing. All applications must be made by a registered referrer.

Clapham Relief Fund

Clapham Relief Fund gives grants up to £300 to individuals in financial or physical need in the area. They also give larger grants to charities and other organisations offering services to those in need in the qualifying wards. The panel meets quarterly.

Cosaraf Charitable Foundation Hardship Grants

Grants to support individuals and families who have exhausted all other sources of funding and are struggling with everyday costs, such as basic living expenses, household items and utilities, work or education-related expenses, or rent arrears. Applications will only be accepted from recognised social organisations.

Family Action - Welfare Grants

Welfare grants programme provides grants for essential personal and household needs to assist families and individuals with low incomes, particularly those living on benefits. Funding is also available for recuperative holidays for women who are resident in greater London.

Herne Hill Solidarity Fund

The Herne Hill Solidarity Fund is a community money pot for neighbours who are struggling to buy essentials. There are no conditions to apply for the fund, other than being a resident of SE24.

Lambeth Emergency Support Scheme

Lambeth Council's Emergency Support Scheme is open to residents with a household income of less than £30,000 per year or receiving benefits. It includes help with high street vouchers, food vouchers, fuel payments, buying second-hand furniture, refurbished washing machine, cooker, fridge, handy-man service, removals and storage service. Visit website for full details. Email for support to apply or apply online.

Lambeth Mutual Aid

Lambeth Mutual Aid is a volunteer-led group supporting Lambeth residents. Their monthly Solidarity Fund offers people in financial need £30 for essentials like food and fuel. If the Solidarity Fund is closed, sign up to be notified when it reopens. They can also provide other practical support.

South London Relief in Sickness Fund

South London Relief in Sickness Fund provides one-off grants of up to £300 (average £130) for people who are mentally or physically ill or disabled and who are in financial need. The grants can be used to purchase items such as furniture, kitchen goods, clothing, holidays, etc.