Dorset Adviceline: 0800 144 8848
National website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Local offices offer face to face, phone and email advice – for details of office locations, opening hours and email enquiry forms, go to:

Citizen’s Advice – Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch
https://www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk/

Help to Claim:
National Citizens Advice helpline for Universal Credit claims: 0800 144 8444

Benefits check:
Make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. There are three reliable online ‘calculators’ – follow the links from the Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Household Support Fund:
For those on a low income and struggling with bills. Dorset Council scheme extended to September 2022, details will be available here soon:
https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-for-residents/household-support-fund

Also search for grants for individuals in need on Turn2Us:
https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-support-for-energy-bills-and-the-cost-of-living-factsheets/

Local Authority administered help:  £150 energy bills rebate (‘Council Tax rebate’) – https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax/energy-bills-rebate

Help with Energy bills (grants etc.) from Ofgem:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/find-schemes-grants-and-benefits-help-home-energy

Help with Energy bills (grants etc.) from Ofgem:
Social tariffs [discounted bills / packages available to people in receipt of certain benefits
e.g. Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance:

Ofcom: cheaper broadband and phone packages:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs

Wessex Water – Help with bills:
https://www.wessexwater.co.uk/your-account/help-paying

Other moneysaving tips

Citizens Advice – if you are struggling with living costs:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/if-youre-struggling-with-living-costs/

Money Saving Expert – cost of living crisis ‘survival guide’ 90+ ways to save money:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/cost-of-living-survival-kit/

Money Helper – living on a squeezed income:
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/way-forward/squeezed-income

Other ways to increase income:
Healthy Start Scheme:  vouchers for pregnant women and families with a child under 4 years old on low income to buy basic food items.

Local Citizens Advice can offer a Debt Assessment; referral for fuller debt advice may involve a wait due to current demand on services. Other FREE sources of debt help:

Citizen Advice national debt helpline:
0800 240 4420

National Debtline:
0808 808 4000   https://nationaldebtline.org/

StepChange:
0800 138 1111   https://www.stepchange.org/

PayPlan:
0800 280 2816   https://www.payplan.com/