Coronavirus - get financial help
If you are struggling to pay your bills, the Council can provide some financial support that may help you if your income is reduced by illness, the need to self-isolate, job loss or a reduction in work hours.
Anyone whose income is reduced significantly in the coming weeks and months is advised to check if they may be eligible for:
- Council Tax Reduction,
- a Discretionary Housing Payment to pay a shortfall in your rent,
- Local Welfare Provision, which is limited to short-term help in a crisis, including food bank vouchers,
- or a Covid Winter Grant Scheme, which is to support households, with or without children, who are struggling to afford food and other essentials because of financial hardship directly due to COVID-19.
You can also contact the Welfare Rights Team.
If you are worried about debt to the council call 0121 569 5333.
Please apply online using the links if you can to free up the phone lines for people without access to the internet.
Worried about money if you are told to self-isolate?
The Government has now brought in fines – starting at £1,000 – for people who fail to self-isolate when they are instructed to.
If you are told you must self-isolate because you’ve tested positive for Covid-19 or you’ve been in close contact with someone who has, that means:
- no trips to the shops
- no walks or exercising in the park
- no meeting up with friends
It's so important to stay at home to protect others and stop the spread of the virus. For people on lower incomes who cannot work from home and have lost income as a result, you will soon be able to apply for a payment of £500 if you are required by law to self-isolate.
The Money Advice Service have also added two pages which provide financial guidance around coronavirus.
Your local councillor will also be able to help you get the support you need. Find your local councillor.
And our partners are working hard to support people – contact Citizens Advice who can help with a range of issues including benefits and debt.