The council operates a hardship fund to assist eligible residents, identified as vulnerable, with medical conditions, elderly, or those with dependent children, who are experiencing extreme financial hardship. The fund provides assistance for emergencies, such as helping with utility bills and providing food.
The fund works in partnership with other grants, and recipients can also make use of the budget and debt management assistance from the community advice team, to help identify other support they may be eligible for.
Anyone requesting assistance from the fund will need to evidence their claim by providing a recent bank statement.
For advice on accessing the hardship fund either call us on 01353 665555 or call into one of our drop-in sessions.
If you are on a low income you may be eligible for Council Tax support to reduce the amount of Council Tax you owe. Other Council Tax reductions are available, such as the Single Person Discount.
If you are of working age and on a low income, you may be able to receive help with the cost of rent by applying for Universal Credit from the government. If you already receive Universal Credit, help with rent should already be included in your Universal Credit payment.
People who are pension age or on a low income may be entitled to Housing Benefit. This benefit is available to both social and private renters.
If you are already receiving Universal Credit or Housing Benefit and this does not cover the full cost of your rent, you can apply to the council for additional help with rent.
Check the government's income support pages for more ideas, including claiming Marriage Allowance, eligibility for Carer's Allowance, Pension Credit and help if you cannot pay your Tax bill.
Information on benefits for adults and older people is available on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website.
The government's benefits calculator is a useful tool to check what benefits you may be entitled to.
You may be eligible for a budgeting loan from the government if you have been on certain benefits for six months. You have to pay back the amount you borrow and repayments are taken automatically from your benefits.
If you are receiving Universal Credit you cannot get a budgeting loan, but you may be able to get a loan as part of your Universal Credit if you need to cover a specific expense - this is called a Budgeting Advance.
Visit the government's childcare webpage for information on tax-free childcare, 30 hours free childcare, 15 hours free childcare, Child Benefit, and a one-off payment for help with maternity costs.
The Turn2Us charity can help you to access welfare benefits, grants and other help.
Cambridgeshire's Local Assistance Scheme (CLAS) supports people facing unexpected financial difficulties. CLAS can provide information, advice and practical support and assistance in times of exceptional pressure.
Following an assessment, you may be eligible for a CLAS award. The awards can be in the form of supermarket vouchers, energy vouchers, new white goods, decorating packs, beds, mattresses, recycled white goods and furniture. To self-refer, contact CLAS directly.
MoneyHelper is a free and impartial advice with money backed by the government.
Telephone: 0300 500 5000
National Debtline is an independent free and trusted debt support charity.
This service offers practical advice on dealing with debt including self-help packs, sample letters to creditors and personal budget sheets.
Telephone: 0808 808 4000
StepChange Debt Charity is a registered charity offering free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt.
There is also an online Debt Remedy tool: This asks you a series of questions about your household, income and expenditure and then provides you with a Debt Remedy tailored to your personal circumstances.
Talk About Debt is a free, confidential debt charity online service which offers practical advice to make sure that you receive the right debt advice for your personal circumstances.
Talk About Debt only works with debt companies that do not charge you for their services.
Debt Advice Foundation is charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt.
Telephone: 0800 043 4050
Payplan is an independent company offering free debt advice and solutions to clients, such as debt management plans (DMPs) with online payment tracking and individual voluntary arrangements.
Tel: 0800 716 239
Business Debtline is run by the Money Advice Trust and can help those who are self-employed or have small businesses.
Christians Against Poverty is a Christian charitable national organisation specialising in debt counselling for people in financial difficulty, including those in need of bankruptcy or insolvency.
Telephone: 01274 760720
Email: info@capuk.org
Advice UK is a service that offers debt advice to the public, some providing specialist advice for minority ethnic and refugee communities and people with disabilities.
Telephone: 0300 777 0107
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulate the financial services industry in the UK. Their role is to promote healthy competition between financial services providers. They have investigative and enforcement powers that they use to protect and regulate the financial services industry.
Telephone: 0800 111 6768
Email: Consumer.queries@fca.org.uk
If you have a complaint that you cannot resolve with your lender, the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help.
Telephone: 0300 123 9123 or 0800 023 4567