Money Advice & Support

Whether you need a benefit check to see if you're getting everything you're entitled to, help managing your budget or paying your rent, our teams are here to help you.

The current cost of living crisis is affecting us all in more ways than one. To help customers navigate this period, we’ve published a one-off money edition of our customer magazine, Reach called ‘Reach Out’. From help with budgeting, food hints and tips to energy saving tips, Reach Out is packed with lots of information and practical support to help you save money and access help if you need it.

View Reach Out

Our Welfare Benefit and Money Advice team is available for you to seek advice and assistance with all matters relating to welfare benefits, debt and money advice.

Whether you want a benefit check to see if you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to, need help to manage your budget and to pay your rent, the team are here to help and assist you.

How the team can help

If you are in receipt of Universal Credit then there are a number of options which may help you to pay your rent:

Alternative Payment Arrangement

If you are struggling to budget your monthly payments of Universal Credit you may be able to have an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA). As your landlord we can apply for an APA on your behalf. This way the Housing Element of your benefit can be paid to us direct, taking the hassle out of managing this yourself. For more information on this please contact us.

Bimonthly

You can request through your work coach to be paid bimonthly instead of monthly if this helps you to budget.

Discretionary housing payment (DHP)

A Discretionary housing payment (DHP) is a means-tested fund that could help if your Universal Credit or housing benefit doesn’t cover the rent. To make a claim for this go directly to Halton Borough Council.

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs. It has been designed to replace six existing benefits.

The change to monthly payments is designed to encourage people to manage their money. It is also more similar in the way wages are paid. This includes paying housing payments to the claimant, for them to then pay to their landlords.

About Universal Credit (UC)

Make a UC claim

Use this handy tool to work your way through the Universal Credit application process.

UC step-by-step guide

Universal Credit replaces 6 benefits but this does not include council tax support. You must apply separately for any support. You can get in touch with us if you require assistance, or you can apply directly online to Halton Borough Council.

It can be very difficult to have a council tax support entitlement backdated, so when you migrate over to Universal Credit remember to apply for council tax support.

Visit Halton Borough Council