DEBT ADVICE 

Debt can happen to anyone. Free advice and support can help you find ways to manage

your debts and reduce how much you pay each month.

 Each of these services offers free and confidential advice

Citizens Advice Croydon: Advice on benefits, debt, housing, employment, immigration and legal

T: 0800 144 8848  | W: www.citizensadvicecroydon.org | Citizens Advice Croydon Online advice form W: www.citizensadvicecroydon.paperform.co

Citizens Advice Help to Claim: Advice and support for claiming Universal Credit T: 0800 144 8444 W: www.citizensadvicecroydon.org/get-advice

Crisis Skylight Croydon: Help and support for single people impacted by homelessness

T: 020 3848 1700 | E: croydon@crisis.org.uk | W: www.crisis.org.uk/get-help/croydon

MoneyHelper
Support with debt, benefits, money management and pensions T:  0800 138 7777 (freephone)

Support with debt, benefits, money management and pensions T:  0800 138 7777 (freephone)

W: www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Hear Us : Providing benefits advice and support (including help with appeals) to people with mental health difficulties. T: 020 8681 6888 |  E: surgery@hear-us.org |  E: www.hear-us.org/surgeries/surgery-referral

Christians Against Poverty Croydon: Help with debt 

- Croydon South Debt Centre   T: 0800 328 0006 | E:info@capuk.org | W:www.capuk.org/i-want-help

- Central Croydon Debt Centre T: 0783 362 1926 | E:info@capuk.org

South West London Law Centres : Free legal advice on issues such as debt, housing, employment and immigration

T: 0208 767 2777 | W: www.swllc.org | Debt: 0208 667 9252

Age UK Croydon/Advice Services Croydon: Information and advice service for older people, their families and carers/Benefits help and advice

T: 020 8686 0066 | asc@adviceservicescroydon.org.uk |W:  www.adviceservicescroydon.org.uk

T: 020 8686 0066 E: aukc@ageukcroydon.org.uk | W:www.ageuk.org.uk/croydon

Carers Information Service: Information, advice and support for carers in Croydon

020 8649 9339 | info@carersinfo.org.uk | www.carersinfo.org.uk

Mind In Croydon: Benefits advice and employment support to enable positive mental health

020 8668 2210 | admin@mindincroydon.org.uk | www.mindincroydon.org.uk

MoneyHelper: Support with debt, benefits, money management and pensions T: 0800 138 7777 (freephone) | www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Drop-in Centres: Support is available from drop-in centres listed at:

www.croydon.gov.uk/housing/housingsupport/homelessness/get-help-if-youlive-street/drop-centres

Hestia: Support for people facing domestic violence T: 020 7378 3100 |info@hestia.org |www.hestia.org

Healthy Start:  Support to  buy fruit, vegetables and milk if you’re on a low income, pregnant or have a child under 4  *Available to those who have NRPF. Apply online: www.healthystart.nhs.uk |  0345 607 6823 | healthystartclaim@dhsc.gov.uk

MoneySavingExpert: Help with energy bills and other cost-cutting help. W www.moneysavingexpert.com

StepChange: Debt advice and money guidance T: 0800 138 1111 (freephone) | W: www.stepchange.org

ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES & MIGRANTS WITH NO RECOURSE TO PUBLIC FUNDS (NRPF)

Project 17: Advice on housing / financial options for families with children facing severe poverty/homelessness because they have NRPF . T: 07963 509 044 | www.project17.org.uk

Croydon Refugee Day Centre: Support for refugees and asylum seekers | W:www.croydonrefugeedaycentre.co.uk

COUNCIL SUPPORT SCHEMES 

People on low incomes may be able to access 

- Housing Benefit/ Universal credit and/or Council Tax Support. Find out more at: www.croydon.gov.uk/benefits

- Discretionary housing payments are made towards housing costs where a person receives Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. More information can be found here:

www.croydon.gov.uk/benefits/financial-hardship/discretionary-housing-payments

Maximise your income 

Anyone struggling financially can get a benefit check and speak to an advisor for free and confidential advice. A benefit check can ensure that you are receiving all the money you’re entitled to, especially if your circumstances have changed recently. Speaking to an advisor could also help you find cheaper deals on things like gas and electricity and make sure you’re not missing out on things like school clothing grants.

Benefit Advance

If you have made a new claim for benefit and are in financial hardship while you wait for

your first payment, you may be able to get an advance to afford things like rent or food. It’s

important to get advice before taking out an advance. Benefit advances must be paid back,

and the money will be taken from your future benefit payments (a loan).

DWP Hardship Payment

If you have been sanctioned, you may be able to request a hardship payment from the

Jobcentre. Hardship payments are not always paid immediately, and they’re not available

to everyone. Hardship payments of Universal Credit need to be paid back (a loan), but

hardship payments of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment Support Allowance do not

(not a loan).

Challenge a Decision

You can challenge a benefit decision if your benefit has been stopped / sanctioned /

reduced/refused or you have been overpaid. Most benefit decisions need to be challenged

within one month.