First, check if you are getting the right benefits using our Benefits Calculator.

If our calculator shows you should be getting more than you are, check whether you are being sanctioned or having deductions taken for debts.

If you are having deductions for other debts, speak to the organisation you owe the debt to and ask them if they could give you a break in payments. If debts are causing you stress or meaning you don't have enough money to get by, get free, independent, confidential debt advice.

If you are having money taken for a sanction, you might be able to get a Hardship Payment. You also might be able to challenge the sanction. 80% of sanctions that are challenged are found to be unfair.

If you are struggling because you are affected by the benefits cap, read our Benefits Cap guide.

Rent

If you are struggling because the help you get with your rent through the benefits system is less than your real rent, you could contact your council to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Assistance Schemes

Councils have hardship funds they can use to help people who are struggling.

There are national schemes in Wales (Welsh Discretionary Assistance Fund), in Scotland (Scottish Welfare Fund) and in Northern Ireland (Discretionary Support Fund).

As well as these, councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have Household Support Funds they can use to help people who are struggling.

Some councils in England also have Local Welfare Assistance schemes.

If you are struggling, contact your council to see what help they can give you.

Charitable grants

If you are struggling financially, it is possible you might be able to get support through a grant from a charity.

You can use our Grants Search to find charities that might be able to help you, based on your background, circumstances and needs.

Energy and water bills

If you are struggling with energy or water bills, contact your supplier for help and advice. 

You can find more information in our guides:

• Energy Schemes 
• Struggling with Energy and Water bills
• Support with the Cost of Living
• Cost of Living Support payment

Debt 

If you are struggling with debt payments, get free, confidential debt advice.

Charitable Grants

You might be able to get a grant from a charity (that you don't have to pay back) to help you pay for what you need. You can use our Grants Search to find charities who may be able to help you, based on your background, circumstances and needs.

Welfare Assistance Funds

Local welfare assistance schemes help people on low incomes to maintain an independent life or relieve an immediate financial crisis. What is available depends on whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

England

If you live in England, your council might operate a local welfare assistance scheme. Contact your council to ask if you can get help in your area. The schemes are discretionary so the council does not have to provide one.

If you are struggling to find any mention of a fund on your local council website, try doing an internet search typing "name of your local council and hardship or welfare fund" e.g. "Birmingham hardship fund" and it should bring up that webpage.

Scotland

If you live in Scotland, you might be able to get help from the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Wales

If you live in Wales you might be able to get support from the Discretionary Assistance Fund.

Northern Ireland

If you live in Northern Ireland, you might be able to get help from the Discretionary Support Fund.

Benefits Advances

If you can’t get a grant through a charity or a discretionary support scheme, you might be able to get an advance on your benefits. 

Household goods

If you need household goods, you might be able to get affordable goods through the Reuse network.

• Food banks

• Pet food

• Not able to shop

• Free school meals

• Cooking on a budget

Food Banks

If you are struggling to afford enough food to eat, you may be able to get help from a food bank.

Each food bank will be different in the services it provides and how you access them. However, you will usually get a voucher from a local referral partner (often Citizens Advice, health and social care professionals and/or local charities). Check what you need with the food bank you want to use.

Many food banks may also be able to provide 'extras' such as toilet paper, toiletries, period products, baby basics or pet food. If there is something essential you need, ask your local food bank if they can help.

They may also be able to provide additional support by referring you to local services that may be able to help.

To find your local food bank, see the following websites:

• Trussell Trust

• Independent Food Network

• Salvation Army centres

Pet food

Turn2us users often ask us about sources of help for emergency pet food. Some food banks may be able to help with emergency pet food. If you have a foodbank voucher and need pet food as well, talk to the food bank staff and see if they can help.

Some people have set up pet food banks in their local areas. You could do an Internet search to see if there is anything where you live or ask your local Citizens Advice, similar advisory service or animal charity, such as RSPCA, Blue Cross or Cats Protection, if they know of any local sources of help. You can use our Find an Adviser to find local advisers.

Some charitable funds listed on our Grants Search may also be able to help, if you meet their eligibility criteria for help, depending on your background, circumstances and needs, as well as what purposes they give grants for.

Not able to shop

If you are unable to get food because you are not able to get to the shop, for instance because you are ill or disabled, you might need to be assessed to see what care support you need. Contact your council for a needs assessment.

Free school meals

Schools must provide some pupils with a free midday meal during term times. For more information who is eligible, see Free School Meals.

Cooking on a budget

The Cooking on a Bootstrap website contains budget recipes by food campaigner Jack Monroe that you may find helpful.

If you are worried about being able to pay your rent, first make sure you are getting all the help you’re entitled to. You can get help with rent through the benefits system. To check what benefit help you're entitled to, use our free, confidential Benefits Calculator.

If the help you get with rent through the benefits system is less than your rent amount (for example, because you're affected by the bedroom tax or the benefit cap), contact your council and ask for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Next, get in touch with your landlord to let them know what is happening. If your landlord is not being understanding, get advice on what you should do. 

Housing advice

The following organisations can advise further on housing issues:

England

• Shelter England

Wales

• Shelter Wales (Cymru)

Scotland

• Shelter Scotland

Northern Ireland

• Housing Rights NI

Contents

• Evictions

• Check your benefits entitlement

• Help from charitable grants

Evictions

If you are worried about being evicted from your home, you should seek advice from a housing expert as soon as possible.

The rules around evictions and the help available depend on where you live in the UK. 

• Shelter England: Eviction

• Shelter Scotland: Eviction from your home

• Shelter Cymru: Eviction

• Housing Rights NI: Eviction

Check your benefits entitlement 

Use our Benefits Calculator to check your benefits entitlement.

Read our Help with Housing Costs information guide.

Help from charitable funds

Use our Grants Search to find help that might be available to you from charitable funds, based on your personal circumstances, background and needs.

If you're struggling with mortgage payments, check to see if you could be entitled to help from the government to pay your mortgage.

The government help with mortgages is a loan, but you don't have to pay it back until you sell your house.

You can check if you're entitled to help paying your mortgage using our free, confidential Benefits Calculator.

If you're behind with mortgage payments, MoneyHelper gives a step by step guide for what you should do.

Funerals can be expensive but help may be available if you can't afford to pay.

Benefits and grants

For information on the help that might be available to you through benefits, charitable grants and other help, see Your Situation: Bereaved.

Quaker Social Action (QSA) resources

Quaker Social Action (QSA), a charity that works with people on low incomes in east London and across the UK, has been a key campaigner on funeral poverty for the past 10 years. It has information on its website to help you plan an affordable funeral and find help with the costs.

If the funeral has taken place

QSA provides information and guidance on its website to support you when faced with debt following a funeral. This includes a guide to Raising money towards funeral costs

Emotional support

Losing a loved one is a very difficult experience.

The national charity Cruse Bereavement Care has resources and information on its website.

Other sources of information and support include:

• Mind

• Samaritans - Phone: 116 123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

If you need additional support at home, you should contact your local council for help.

General information

Your Situation: Ill, Injured or Have a Disability

Your Situation: Carer

If you are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse of any kind, help and support is available to you. This includes police response, online support, helplines, refuges and other services.

You are not alone and there is never an excuse for domestic abuse.

See the following sections on this page for more information.

• Report domestic abuse
• Domestic abuse charities
• Turn2us tools and resources can help you find financial support

Report domestic abuse

If your life is in immediate danger or in an emergency, call the police on 999.

See Report domestic abuse on the Gov.UK website for more information and to find other support services.

Domestic abuse charities

Women and children

• Refuge
• Women's Aid

Children

• Childline
• NSPCC

Economic abuse

• Surviving Economic Abuse

Men and boys

• Mankind
• Men's Advice Line
• Survivors UK

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people

• Galop
• Switchboard

Turn2us tools and resources can help you find financial support

Money to start a new life away from your abuser is important.

You can use our Benefits Calculator to check your entitlement to benefits and our Grants Search to see if any help is available to you from a charitable fund, based on your background, circumstances and needs.

We have information on benefits and grants in the Your Situation section.

You can also find local advisers by using our Find an Adviser tool.