Free, confidential and impartial advice

PayPlan can help if you’re struggling with multiple debts. They provide 100% free, confidential debt advice and support either online or over the phone.

One of their specialists will look at your monthly income and outgoings and who you owe money to. They’ll work out what you can afford and what options are available to help you feel more in control of your finances.

Visit their website to take the first steps toward getting a personalised action plan for managing your finances. Alternatively, you can call them on 0800 316 1833.

MoneyHelper (formerly the Money Advice Service) provide free, clear and unbiased advice to help you make the most of your money. Call them on 0800 138 7777.

Alternatively, you can visit the MoneyHelper website which provides other contact methods, including webchat.

You can also find out what services are available across the UK, including what face to face support is available in your local area using the Debt Advice Locator.

Citizens Advice offer free, confidential and impartial advice on legal, money and other problems.

They can provide the opportunity for face-to-face advice through their local advice centres, with a wide range of resources available online.

For online support, or to find your local advice centre, visit their website and select England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland from the options presented.

StepChange is a registered charity offering free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt. Its online debt counselling tool provides you with advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

If you feel that you need some expert guidance, you can contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111.

The StepChange website allows you to contact them by e-mail and you can also choose to receive debt advice online.

National Debtline is a debt advice charity run by the Money Advice Trust.

They offer a free and confidential debt advice service for people in England, Wales and Scotland – and have helped millions of people to deal with their debts.

You can call them, use webchat or their Digital Advice Tool to get free advice. Visit their website for more information.

Business Debtline offers free, confidential and independent advice for self-employed people and small businesses in England, Wales and Scotland.

Visit their website or call them on 0800 197 6026.

If you’re facing repossession of your home because a solution cannot be reached to resolve your arrears, the following organisations can provide advice.

Shelter can offer you free, impartial and confidential advice through a dedicated homeowner helpline on 0300 3300 515.

For more general housing advice, call Shelter’s free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444; or you can find details of your local advice centre via their website.

Citizens Advice offers free, confidential and impartial advice on legal, money and other problems.

They can provide the opportunity for face-to-face advice through their local advice centres, with a wide range of resources available online.

For online support, or to find your local advice centre, visit their website and select England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland from the options presented.

If your financial difficulties are the result of losing your job or being made redundant, there are many organisations that can help you to be in the best possible position when looking for a new job.

Additionally, the Government set up a Find a Job service to help people to search and apply for jobs. Their website also provides links to related pages for out of work benefits

Millions of pounds worth of benefits goes unclaimed every year, so make sure you are receiving what you are entitled to. Benefits can be claimed for several reasons for example:

• sickness or disability
• unemployment
• caring for someone
• being aged 60 or over
• after a bereavement
• pregnancy or if you’ve recently had a baby
• if you’re a family with dependent children.

A quick and easy way to find out what you can claim can be found at:

Gov.uk – All public services in one place including information on benefits.

MoneyHelper – has a specific section on benefits and a calculator so you can quickly see what benefits you are entitled to.