Debt and welfare benefit advice

Our Debt & Benefits Advice Team provide a free and confidential debt and benefits advice service. You don’t have to be a tenant to use this service, it can be used by anyone living in a SBHG household. 

Call our FREE advice service on: 020 8996 8900 

Our advice line is open from 10:30am to 4pm - Monday to Friday

We also provide a debt and welfare benefit advice drop-in centre on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at Furnish, our second-hand furniture store.

We help a number of housing associations and residents within specific boroughs. These include:

» Shepherds Bush Housing Association
» Thames Valley Housing Association
» Catalyst Housing (Ealing and Hounslow residents only)
» All Fulham residents

If we are unable to help you, we will encourage you to find a legal adviser or family mediator with a legal aid contract in England and Wales.

Checking benefit entitlement

» Finding out what benefits you could get, their effects on existing benefits, how much you could get and helping you make a claim.

 

Benefit problems

» Challenging benefit decisions, sanctions and delays in payments.

 

Representation at tribunals

» Preparing and submitting your appeal and representation at your tribunal hearing.

 

Priority/non priority debts

» Assistance with all debts, including rent, council tax and mortgage arrears.

» Helping you to explore insolvency options, including advice and support to apply for a Debt Relief Order or Bankruptcy, or referral for Individual Voluntary Arrangement and debt management plans.

 

Negotiating with creditors

» Preparation of a financial statement that reflects your full situation.

» Negotiation with bailiffs and court enforcement officers.

» Help you to make sustainable and affordable offers to your creditors.

 

Money management

» Budgeting advice.

» Maximising income and applying for help from charities.