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,
- or Local Welfare Provision, which is limited to short-term help in a crisis, including food bank vouchers.
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.
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.
GRANTfinder
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses across the UK deepens, the ability to signpost available funding to businesses in need has never been more urgent.
To meet this need Think Sandwell has free access for local businesses to the UK’s leading provider of funding information to the business, voluntary and public sector.
The Open4Business portal is updated regularly with new local, regional and national funding announcements and can be easily searched by businesses on the basis of their industry, region and business size. The portal then provides information on how to apply for funding and contact funders directly.
You can access the Sandwell Open4Business portal with a quick and simple registration but feel free to contact the team should you require any further support.