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

• GOV.UK
• Tax Credits
• Turn to Us

Businesses

• Business and Self Employed
• How to reduce your business rates

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

Emotional Support

• Stress Management Society

Employment issues

• Redundancy
• Job vacancies at jobs go public

Energy Efficiencies (saving you money)

• Energy Saving Trust  

Housing Options

• Advice on housing options available to you
• Repossession
• Shelter (The housing and homelessness charity)

Need help with your rent or council tax?

• Housing Benefit
• Local Council Tax Support
• Benefit calculators

Other useful information for people who are;

Armed Forces

• Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
• Royal British Legion

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)

Pensioners

• Age UK
• Bus Passes (free if meeting eligible criteria)
• GOV.UK (pensions and retirement planning)

Single Parents

• Gingerbread. (National charity for loan parents)
• Net-mums (local network for mums and dads)

Young

• Apprenticeships
• Canvey Island Youth Project
• The Money Advice Service (for young people)
• The Princes Trust