Money matters
At bpha we understand that the last few years have been challenging. Not just personally. But financially too.
The cost of utilities, rent and other essentials continue to increase. Together with the end of the Universal Credit uplift, more and more people are struggling to make ends meet.
Our Money Advice service provides, free and impartial help to anyone looking to improve their financial situation.
Benefits and budgeting calculator
Try this simple to use Better Off Calculator.
Universal credit helper
Find out more about Universal Credit.
Read our FAQs
Jump down to our FAQ section.
Contact us
Get in touch with the Money Advice Team.
How do you pay your rent?
Direct Debit: You need to do nothing – We will advise you of the new amount of your direct debit, however if there is going to be a problem with us taking payment you should contact us.
Help from Universal Credit: Your rent letter will confirm the date your new rent starts. On that date, you should add your new rent figure to your Journal.
Help from Housing Benefit: You do not need to do anything; we will notify your local authority.
At the Post Office: We will notify you of any rent increase.
Read our case studies to find out how we have helped people before.
Case Study 1
Miss A is a single mother with two children, she has just separated from her partner. When we met with her, the only income she had was Child Benefit and she had been left with quite a lot of debt in her name following the end of the relationship. Her tenancy was at risk due to very high rent arrears. We have carried out a few potential Universal Credit calculations for the Miss A and explained that the best scenario would be for her to work part time. Miss A has managed to find part time job to maximize her income. She is now managing her finances and working on paying off the debts.
Case Study 2
Mr C, an elderly single man, alcohol dependant, with lots of debts. Mr C has disability and is in receipt of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment. His tenancy was in risk due to very high rent arrears and non-priority debts. Mr C was under a lot of stress and pressure from his creditors, and this was having an impact on his addiction. Mr C’s mental health significantly deteriorated up to the point that he needed to have weekly visits from his mental health nurse.
We have helped Mr C to manage his creditors, negotiated payment plans on his behalf. We have also identified benefit backdate for him and once he has received the backdated payment, he was able to clear his rent arrears. We have worked with him to look for other support to help with his dependency. With support Mr C engaged with a former employer and has now found employment. Mr C is sticking to his payment arrangements and his rent account is already in credit.
Case Study 3
Mr B was referred to us as his Housing Officer, as Mr B was living alone after a relationship break down. We spoke with Mr B at length and noted that he was in receipt of his State Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, and a disability benefit.
Mr B had never claimed benefits himself; his wife had always dealt with these matters but after a discussion we able to advise him he would get full support with his rent and council tax. We guided Mr B though the process and he was awarded Housing Benefit to cover his full rent and Council Tax rebate. We are also now working with the Housing Officer to find Mr B a smaller property so he can begin a fresh start.
Case Study 4
Ms J had got herself into rent arrears. Her Housing Officer had previously offered for her to speak to bpha’s Money Advice Team, however Miss J had refused and her tenancy was now at risk. Although upset and embarrassed about the situation, she eventually decided to give us a call.
One of our advisors quickly gathered information on her financial situation. After a little time, he came back with a plan and Miss J's eviction was put on hold, if she continued to work with Money Advice and clear her arrears.
We were able to speak to Universal Credit (UC) on her behalf and found Miss J was being underpaid for her rent. The advisor managed to get UC to agree to cover her entire rent each month, and also secured a backdated payment which meant that Miss J's entire debt was covered. Her rent account was paid off and she was in credit. She can breathe easy, not worry about what letter she may be getting through the mail and no longer avoids phone calls.
Hear from a member of the Money Advice team
All year round, our Money Advice Team works with people who are facing financial challenges.
Impartial, free and non-judgemental, the team works alongside people to provide a pathway towards a more affordable future.
They can also act as advocates, making applications and writing letters to support people who may feel too overwhelmed to take these steps alone.
Money Advice Manager, Amanda Ryan is on hand, to give you free, expert advice on how to manage your finances.
I am 25 or under
If you are 25 or under and in work, you may be feeling a lot of financial pressure as costs continue to rise.
Use our benefits calculator, to check if you are entitled to any help, like Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.
If you already get benefits and are struggling to meet your living costs, please get in touch. We will work with you to find a solution.
Other ways we can help
- try to secure grant funding to help with your utility bills
- help you find ways to heat your home more cheaply
- show you how to improve your credit rating so you can access better rates on costs you incur
- find deals and incentives where you get paid to switch providers or banks
- secure support from our partner agencies locally
- Help you manage any debt.
I work part time or have a zero hours contract
If you are working part time or are on a zero hours contract you may be entitled to welfare benefits. Use our benefits calculator to see what you can claim and how to claim it.
Irregular hours, even doing overtime, can mean your entitlement keeps changing. This makes it difficult to budget.
We can help with this. Make a referral to the Money advice team and we will work out a plan with you. Our benefits calculator also has a budgeting tool to help you through the lean times.
Other ways we can help
- Try to secure grant funding to help with your utility bills
- Help you find ways to heat your home more cheaply
- Show you how to improve your credit rating so you can access better rates on costs you incur
- Find deals and incentives where you get paid to switch providers or banks
- Secure support from our partner agencies locally
- Help you manage any debt.
I receive some benefits
If you are finding it difficult to balance your income and expenditure, we can provide support and assistance.
You might have only recently claimed benefits and are finding it hard to budget with a very basic income. If you have been receiving benefits for some time, then please access our benefits calculator to check you are claiming everything you can. The system might have changed since you last applied.
If you are getting support to pay your rent but you are struggling to keep up with any arrears or shortfall then we can help. Refer yourself to the Money Advice Team.
Other ways we can help
- Try to secure grant funding to help with your utility bills
- Help you find ways to heat your home more cheaply
- Show you how to improve your credit rating so you can access better rates on costs you incur
- Find deals and incentives where you get paid to switch providers or banks
- Secure support from our partner agencies locally
- Help you to manage any debt.
I pay all of my rent from my earnings
If you make your full rent payments without support and are finding things difficult then please use our benefits calculator to check if you can get any help.
Money Advice is here to give guidance and support to anyone experiencing financial hardship. You do not have to receive benefits or be entitled to them.
If you are struggling to meet your living costs, please get in touch. We will do everything we can to make life easier.
Other ways we can help
- Try to secure grant funding to help with your utility bills
- Help you find ways to heat your home more cheaply
- Show you how to improve your credit rating so you can access better rates on costs you incur
- Find deals and incentives where you get paid to switch providers or banks
- Secure support from our partner agencies locally
- Help you to manage any debt.
Universal credit helper
Click on the link below to use the Universal Credit application process. You can leave the guide and come back to it at anytime – it will save your progress.
Better Off Calculator
Try this simple to use Better Off Calculator. Through just a few simple steps you can see how much benefit you are eligible for and how much better off you might be in work. You can also see how changes in your household budget can affect your income. You can use the calculator for free, but if you want to save and compare calculations, you need to set up an account.
Money saving boiler challenge
If you have a gas combi boiler, you could save up to £112 a year on your gas bill by changing a single setting!
A combi boiler – a boiler that provides both your hot water and heating – works best when it heats radiators to 60°C or below.
The flow temperature your boiler is set to heat at may be too high – it’s not unusual for boilers to be set between 70°C and 80°C. The flow temperature is the temperature water is heated to before it goes around the radiators in your home. Reducing this could save you money – and the online guide below shows you exactly how to do it. Changing the flow temperature will not affect the temperature of the hot water from your taps and showers.
We know that not everyone has the same type of boiler. You don’t need to know the make and model – the guide takes you through pictures, just click on the one that looks like your boiler. It’s quick and easy.
This tool was created by registered charity Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. They have also produced a handy list of frequently asked questions about the money saving boiler challenge, which you can find here.
