Managing your money
Whatever your financial situation, our Money Matters Team will work with you to give you all the support and advice you need.
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Get help and support
Our Money Matters Team offers a free service to help you make the most of your money. The service is available to all customers and you do not have to be in debt to use it.
We can arrange a confidential, face-to-face chat.
To contact our Money Matters Team, you can:
Calls will cost the same as a call to a landline number and will be included as part of any inclusive minutes on your mobile phone package.
Benefits
Our Money Matters Team can help you claim benefits you are entitled to, like Housing Benefit, Universal Credit and Pension Credit. You can use a benefit calculator to find out what benefits you could get.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is money to help with your living costs and housing costs. It is paid once a month and it is for people who are:
- on a low income
- out of work
- cannot work
Our Money Matters Team can help you apply for Universal Credit.
If you get Universal Credit, the team will also make sure you get the full amount you are entitled to.
Find out about further help you can get with a Universal Credit claim.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is money to help with your living costs and housing costs. It is for people who have a low income and are at or over their State Pension age. This is the earliest age you can receive your State Pension. Check your State Pension age.
Pension Credit may also help you get other benefits like Housing Benefit, Council Tax discount and help with heating costs.
Our Money Matters Team can help you apply for Pension Credit.
Discretionary Housing Payment
Sunderland City Council provide a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with rent or housing costs. You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment if you already get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.
Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Council Tax Support
Sunderland City Council also provide Council Tax Support to help with Council Tax costs.
Apply for Council Tax Support.
Gentoo Crisis Fund
Our Crisis Fund can offer one-off payments that you do not have to pay back to help support customers in emergency situations.
The money can help pay for:
- food
- energy, like gas and electric bills or prepayment meter top ups
- essential travel, like a bus pass to get to work
To find out more about the fund and how to access it, contact your Neighbourhood Co-ordinator.
Cheaper broadband and telephone packages
If you or someone in your household gets certain benefits, you may be eligible for a social tariff that costs less.
About 30,000 homes in Sunderland can get cheaper broadband and could save an average of £200 a year. But the Digital Poverty Alliance reported that only 3.9% of homes apply for and get these packages.
Universal Credit is an eligible benefit with all providers that offer social tariffs. Other benefits that may be eligible include:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseekers’ Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
Find out more about social tariffs, packages and how to apply.
Budgeting your money
As the cost of living increases, it is important to keep track of your money.
MoneyHelper was set up by the government to give clear advice that can help you make informed choices about your money. They have many free and useful guides, tools and planners, including an easy-to-use budget planner.
Find more guides, tools and planners on MoneyHelper.
Debt advice
There are things you can do to reduce your debt. We recommend you to:
- start dealing with your debt rather than ignore it
- find all your debts and rank them by priority, use the money helper priority tool to help
- complete a spending plan using your bank statements / receipts, you can use good old-fashioned pen and paper, a spreadsheet, an online budget planner or our Money Matters Team are happy to help with this too
- contact your creditors and let them know your situation, our Money Matters Team can help
- if you are confused or need help, speak to our Money Matters Team or seek debt advice
Find out more about how our Money Matters Team can help.
Money Adviser Network
Worried about debts or have missed payments? There is free, confidential, and independent debt advice available. You won’t need to pay for the advice you receive, and it won’t affect your credit rating.
The government sponsored MoneyHelper can direct you to a debt adviser straight away by telephone or you can get support online.
Find out more about how MoneyHelper can help you with your financial situation
Moneywise Credit Union
Sunderland City Council has partnered with Moneywise Credit Union, to bring affordable credit and secure savings to Sunderland residents. Moneywise offer a range of loans and interest rates ranging from personal loans, pay day loans, saving plans, including payroll deductions.
Residents in Sunderland can join Moneywise credit union - there's no joining fee.
Moneywise also has a handy calculator to work out repayments and a range of different loan products available.
For more information, call 0330 165 5337 or email admin@moneywise.org.uk
Loan Sharks
A loan shark is an illegal money lender who operates without a licence from the Office of Fair Trading.
Loan sharks often target vulnerable people. They work alone, or have a tight group of collectors.
How to spot a loan shark
- Illegal money lenders generally start out being friendly, and are often heard of through a friend, but can change very quickly as soon as payment is missed
- Frequently illegal money lenders offer little or no paperwork (agreements, payment books, receipts)
- If you do sign paperwork, they may not give you a copy (as required by the Consumer Credit Act 1974)
- Often illegal money lenders do not tell the victims the interest rate, they can add extra charges or increase the amount despite the victims making regular payments
- They often accept payments in cash and collect weekly
- They will often refuse to tell victims when they will finish paying or how much they still owe
- Illegal money lenders may take passports, driving licences, benefits cards, bank cards or other items as security for the loan
- Sometimes illegal money lenders make their victims feel threatened and intimated or are violent towards them
Report a loan shark
If you suspect a loan shark is working in your area, contact the confidential advice line:
- 0300 555 2222
- reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
- Report a loan shark
- Text: ‘loanshark’ to 60003
Other help and support
If you are in financial hardship or need advice to help you work out your debts and how you might pay them, contact a debt advisor. You can get free, impartial and non-judgemental advice from:
Discount on your water bill
If you are struggling to pay your water bill, apply to Northumbrian Water for a discount on your water bill. They have a discount scheme that can reduce your bill by one-half.
If you need help to apply, our Money Matters Team can help you.
Energy costs, energy bills and fuel debt
We can offer energy advice that can help you reduce your energy costs and recover from fuel debt.