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- Are you worried about money?
Are you worried about money?

Money issues can affect anyone, whether you’re in employment or receiving benefits. If you're having difficulties, we’re here to help.
If you’re having difficulty paying your rent or your circumstances change, please get in touch with us as soon as possible, as we can help.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the links below, or need further assistance, please talk to your Housing Officer who can help you get the support you need.
- How can we help?
Your housing officer can provide guidance to help you reduce your debts and manage your money.
They can also make sure that you get in touch with the right people to help you.
They can refer you to free support services that can give you individual, specialised support.
It's important to get any money and debt issues under control as soon as possible, if you’d like to speak to us accessing support, please get in touch. - Free support services
There are also lots of free services available online and in your community.
You’ll find lots of links below to a range of support agencies, tools and information to help you manage your money and make sure you’re receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Support services in Derbyshire
- Derbyshire County Council - Household Support Fund
The Government have provided Derbyshire County Council with a new one-off funding, called the Household Support Fund.
The Household Support Fund is available to provide short-term financial support to help those who are struggling to afford the essentials this winter.
This fund is available until 31 March 2022.
Who can apply?
Households facing financial hardship can apply for a grant for help towards their food, energy and essential living costs.
How to apply for the fund
To enquire, or apply for support, please call Council on 01629 533399.
Find out more
You can find out more about the fund, eligibility and applying on the Council's website.
- Money Sorted in D2N2 - free support in Derbyshire
Money Sorted in D2N2 is a free scheme delivered by Citizens Advice. It helps people manage their money better, develop skills and improve confidence when dealing with money.
Who is it for?
- Anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties and worries and would like some support
- living in either Derby or Derbyshire
- and are unemployed.
What support is provided?
- Personal Navigator providing individual support
- Assessment of financial wellbeing
- Personal Financial Resilience Plan
- Support with current financial circumstances, including debt, benefits, banking and any other aspects
- Money Mentor option
- Other support, as relevant to the you
- It will also help you move toward training or employment
Find out more
To find our more about the scheme and how to access their support, please visit the Money Sorted in D2N2 website.
- Citizens Advice - local, free and impartial advice
Citizens Advice provide free, independent and impartial advice to help you find a way forward, whatever the problem.
This includes advice and information on:
- Benefits
- Debt and money
- Housing
- Health
- Consumer rights
- Family rights
- Legal support
Their network of charities offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.
For local support, take a look their website for your area:
Derbyshire: www.citizensadvicederbyshiredistricts.org.uk
- They also have a national phone AdviceLine: 0800 144 8848 (you'll be put through to a local adviser if one is free)
- And a dedicated debt helpline: 0800 240 4420
- Both helplines are available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
- Housing support for people experiencing mental ill-health
The P3 Charity provide tenancy-based support via one-to-one visits in your own home and drop-in sessions at one of their five local support centres.
They have five support centres across Derbyshire, known as Navigator hubs, in: Buxton, Ilkeston, Matlock, Ripley and Swadlincote
Find out more:
www.p3charity.org/DIL
Tel: 01773 742 051
National support
Support with housing and energy bills
- £150 Council Tax rebate
If your home is in Council Tax band A, B, C or D, you should be entitled to £150 rebate (payment)
Is your home in Council Tax band A, B, C or D?
- Yes
Great. You should be entitled to the £150 rebate (payment). This is a one-off payment, which you will NOT need to pay back. - No
Sorry, if you're not band A, B, C or D you won't be eligible for the rebate.
Are you paying by direct debit?
- Yes
Even better. You'll automatically get the rebate into your bank account. You don't need to do anything. - No
To get the payment as quickly and easily as possible, there's still time to sign up to pay by direct debit. Do this as soon as you can before 31st March 2022.
Don't worry you'll still get the rebate, but it may take a bit longer and you will need to contact your local authority to find out what their process is.
Set up a direct debit for your council tax:
Head over to your local authority to find out more:
Derbyshire Dales District Council - council tax rebate
High Peak Borough Council - council tax rebate
North East Derbyshire District Council - council tax rebate
Sheffield City Council - council tax rebate
South Derbyshire District Council - council tax rebate
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council - council tax rebate
- Yes
- Energy benefits and discounts
There are lots of national and local benefits and grants available to help you manage your energy costs.
- Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs)
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.
They are issued through your local council and each council decides how their application process will work (see links to each Council's relevant webpage below).
They are a top-up to Housing Benefit or the Housing Element within your Universal Credit award, and are available if the Council considers that someone needs extra help with their housing costs.
DHPs are only available as short-term assistance, not a long-term solution. They are discretionary awards and do not form part of your benefit entitlement. Please be aware the council's have a limited fund for these payments, and they are often only paid in exceptional circumstances.
Could you be eligible?
You may be able to apply for a DHP if you currently claim either:
- Housing Benefit, or
- the housing element of Universal Credit
- AND need more financial support with housing costs.
You may get a DHP to cover housing costs for:
- a rent shortfall
- rent deposits
- rent in advance if you need to move home
DHPs cannot cover council tax, even if you get Local Council Tax Support, however see the section below 'Council tax reduction' for support.
How to apply
You'll need to apply through your local council:
Derbyshire Dales - Discretionary Fund
High Peak Borough Council - Discretionary Housing Payments
North East Derbyshire District Council - Discretionary Housing Payments
Sheffield City - Discretionary Housing Payments
South Derbyshire - Discretionary Housing Payments
Staffordshire Moorlands - Discretionary Housing Payments
Help with application forms
If you need any help completing application forms, please get in touch with your housing officer who will be able to support you on 0300 1234 009 or at enquiries@midlandsrural.org.uk
- Council tax support
If you’re on a low income or claiming benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction or other support paying your council tax bill.
There are various schemes including
Council Tax Support (Reduction)
A Council Tax Reduction scheme helps those on low incomes towards the cost of their council tax.
Discretionary Council Tax Support (DCTS)
This is a short term award, made at the discretion of your Council, to assist customers with shortfalls in council tax costs.
To see what your council offers and how to apply, take a look at their websites:
- Derbyshire Dales District Council - Council Tax Reduction
- NE Derbyshire District Council - Council Tax discounts and reductions
- Sheffield City Council:
- Discretionary Council Tax Hardship Fund
- Council Tax discounts
- South Derbyshire District Council:
- Council Tax Reduction scheme
- Council Tax Discretionary Payments
- Staffordshire Moorlands District Council - Council Tax Reduction scheme
Help with application forms
If you need any help completing application forms, please get in touch with your housing officer who will be able to support you on 0300 1234 009 or at enquiries@midlandsrural.org.uk
- Universal credit and other benefits
Find out more about Universal Credit, job seekers allowance and pension credit on our benefits page.
Online debt and money management tools
- Entitledto – online benefits calculator
Entiteldto’s online benefits calculator is a great tool. It's free and completely independent.
The calculator will:
- provide you with a reliable estimate of your benefit entitlements
- help you understand if you're receiving the right amount of money in your benefit claims,
- and advise if you're eligible for other types of benefits.
Find out what benefits you may be entitled to with the entitledto calculator
- Turn2us – free, practical financial help and support
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who're struggling financially.
They help people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through partner organisations.
Their website offers:
- an online benefits calculator
- an online grants search
- Turn2us direct grant-giving funds
- links to other sources of information and help
Financial support for older people
- Age UK
Age UK offer information and advice through a free, confidential national phone service for older people, their families, friends, carers and professionals.
They can help with:
- benefits
- retirement
- wellbeing
- money issues.
Find out more on the Age UK website or call on 0800 678 1602
You may also find the following pages helpful:
If you have any questions, please contact us on 0300 1234 009 and ask to speak to a member of the housing management team.