The following services may help if you need financial help.
Breathing Space
Breathing Space is a government debt respite scheme which gives you legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days. The protections include pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors and freezing most interest and charges on their debts.
Find out more about Breathing Space from Step Change Debt Charity.
Financial help in Surrey
Get details of financial support offered by Surrey County Council.
Help for Households
Find information on the cost of living support you may be eligible on GOV.UK: Help for Households.
Cost of Living Payments
You may be able to get payments to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.
For more information see: GOV.UK: Cost of Living Payments
Discretionary Council Tax Relief
To assist with applications for a discretionary council tax relief (under Section 13A), see:
Money navigator tool
The money navigator tool provides free money and debt guidance based on individual circumstances and help finding support in your area. It includes ways of staying on top of bills, how to find extra support and where to get extra help.
Go to: Money navigator tool: Money Helper
Household support fund (phase 4)
The government launched a further £842 million support fund for vulnerable households towards cost of living for 2023/24.
Elmbridge Borough Council has been allocated £368,000 to support households who are in receipt of housing benefit or council tax support on the 15 September 2023, and on that day have met one of following conditions:
- A member of the household is in receipt of a qualifying disability or carer benefit/element
- A member of the household is of pensionable age;
- A member of the household is a child under 16.
OR
- is in receipt of 100% care leavers council tax reduction on 15 September 2023.
How much is the payment?
The council has identified approximately 4,800 eligible households. These households will receive a minimum payment of £65. If you have a child under sixteen in your household as on 15 September 2023 you will be paid a top up payment of £35, making the total payment £100.
How do I receive payment?
We will make payments into existing bank account details using the information we gathered from previous schemes and council tax records. Customers do not need to contact us where we hold correct bank details as payment will automatically be made.
When will I receive payment?
Payment will be made directly to the bank account or credited to the council tax account by 22 December 2023. A reference beginning with H4HOLD will show on the bank statement.
I have received correspondence asking for bank details, how do I submit this ?
We do not hold bank details for all eligible customers and will contact you by 19 November if we need you to submit bank account details to make the payment.
Log into your online account via www.elmbridge.gov.uk/myaccount and follow the below steps.
- In top right-hand corner of ‘Your Account’ page, Select ‘submit a request.’
- Click on ‘Browse all forms’ or ‘Find a Form’ and search for the form named ‘HSF4’
- Complete the details and submit.
Surrey County Council - Household Support Fund
Find out about how Surrey is allocating their Household Support Fund.