Money Matters – money and benefits advice

Money Matters

At bpha we understand that the last two 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. Read our case studies to find out how we have helped people before.

Please select from the buttons below to find out more about how we can help you, whatever your circumstances.

We’re here to help. Whatever your circumstances

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.

A young woman sits at a table looking at a magazine and holding a pen. She appears to be completing a form or puzzle. She is sitting in a home, has shoulder length dark hair and is casually dressed. She is concentrating on what she is doing intently.

A woman is bending over mindfully as a smiling little boy picks some lavender. He is black, dressed in bright summer clothes and is approximately 3. The woman, also black, has long hair and is also in summer clothes. She is very engaged with him. He looks very happy to be outside and exploring the flowers.

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 do 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.

A woamn with red hair and glasses stands before a branch of a tree which is in front of a tower block. She is wering a nexklace, earings and a short sleeved top. She is gazing into the distance, thoughtfully. She is in her late 50s.

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.

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.

A couple, male and female, stand in the garden of a property smiling in the sunshine. The man is black. The woman is white. He has his arm around her. There are flowers in a pot behind them and a bush with pink flowers in the foreground. They are looking at something out of site and look happy and relaxed.

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.

Two women are walking together smiling and laughing. They are both elderly. One, an asian woman, walks with a stick. She is laughing at something her friend (who is white) has just said. The white lady is holding a daffodil. They are walking in a quiet residential area. The back drop is of shrubs with yellow flowers and lavender in front of some modern build residential properties.

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

Benefits and budgeting calculator

Get started

Money Saving Boiler Challenge

Find out more

Case studies

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.