The council understands that the summer months may create additional financial pressures to our residents with payments towards your rent, having to buy new school uniforms and trying to keep your children entertained through the summer whilst managing your other bills.
We want to help our residents manage these extra pressures and also ensure that you do not fall behind with your priority bills such as rent and Council Tax.
Extra help paying your rent
If you are a Council tenant struggling to pay your rent or payments towards your rent arrears due to the extra financial pressures this summer, then we are here to help you.
Our friendly Income Management team are on hand to listen to you and to provide support on how you can manage your rent payments and the additional financial pressures you might be experiencing.
The support and advice we offer includes:
- Advice on Universal Credit
- Advice on essential money management
- Help with applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
- Extra financial help to pay your rent and or arrears
- Advice on free/low-cost summer holiday activities for families
- Extra financial help with buying school uniforms
The Income Management team can also provide support to tenants in employment on a low income and benefits through the household support fund.
School Uniforms
If you are a Council tenant and struggling with the cost of school uniforms, please contact the Income Management team as they may be able to help you, details on how to contact them are at the end of this page.
The team have access to discretionary funding to support Council tenants in financial hardship, and you may qualify for this support.
If you qualify for support, the team will be able to issue a PayPoint voucher which can be used at a number of different shops to enable you to buy school uniform for your children ahead of the new term.
Holiday Activities
The Council also supports a range of events and fun activities to help keep your children entertained during the summer holidays.
The Sandwell holiday activities page provides an awesome activity finder which will help you discover all the options that are on offer in Sandwell this summer.
The fun in Sandwell continues at our other venues, Sandwell Valley Country Park, our museums, through our libraries and Leisure centres.
For more information on what is available throughout the summer, please visit our What’s on in Sandwell page:
Contact Details
If you are a council tenant, you can contact the Income Management team on 0121 737 5148 Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm and 9am to 5pm on a Friday to speak to one of our friendly officers.
If you are renting in the private rented sector and require financial assistance, advice or support to manage your money, please contact the Welfare Rights Unit on 0121 569 3158 Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm.