Welfare and Debt - Information and Advice
There is information and advice available from the Council and other organisations during this difficult time. Therefore, this page has been designed to provide a focal point to links to specific information relating to the current economic downturn and will hopefully prove helpful to you, your family and businesses. Just click on your chosen subject matter.
Advice and Support
Please see the advice and support timetable Advice & Support Timetable [pdf] 290KB showing what is available across the borough for free.
Benefits and financial support
Businesses
Debt Advice and Support
- Budgeting calculator
- Budgeting Loans
- CAB
- Loan sharks
- Money Advice Service
- Money Saving Expert (Martin Lewis)
- National Debt line
- PayPlan
- Step Change Payday Loans Advice
Employment issues
Energy Efficiencies (saving you money)
Housing Options
- Advice on housing options available to you
- Repossession
- Shelter (The housing and homelessness charity)
Mental Health Support
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Team
- Childline
- CRUSE Bereavement
- MIND
- Papyrus
- POhWER
- Rethink
- Samaritans
- The Ship Directory (Southend Info Point and Directory for Adults, Children & Families
Need help with your rent or council tax?
Other useful information for people who are;
Armed Forces
Disabled
- Blue badge scheme (parking concessions through Essex County Council)
- Bus passes (free if meeting eligible criteria)
- GOV.UK (general information)
- Shaw Trust (disabled and wanting to work)