Your financial wellbeing

Advice for debt management
- If you are worried about debt, it is important to ask for help as early as possible. Free and confidential advice is available from several trusted organisations.
- A debt adviser can help you understand your options, prepare a budget, contact creditors and identify a suitable way forward.
- StepChange Debt Charity
- National Debtline
- Citizens Advice – debt and money
- You can also speak to your Support Worker or Housing Officer if you need help finding appropriate advice.
Advice for saving
- Saving a small amount regularly can help you prepare for unexpected costs and work towards future goals.
- Consider setting an affordable savings target and transferring money into a separate savings account after you receive your income.
- Before opening an account, compare the interest rate, access conditions and any fees.
- Review your regular spending and subscriptions to identify small changes that may help you save.
- Do not put essential living costs at risk in order to save. If money is already difficult to manage, speak to a free money or debt adviser first.
Advice for budget management
- A budget can help you understand how much money is coming in, where it is being spent and what is available after essential costs.
- Begin by listing your income and regular expenses, including rent, energy, food, travel, telephone costs, repayments and subscriptions.
- Check your bank statements regularly and plan for costs that may not occur every month.
- Shopping lists, price comparisons and supermarket loyalty schemes may help reduce everyday costs, but only buy items that you need.
- MoneyHelper budget planner
- Citizens Advice – budgeting
Advice for benefit support
- Understanding benefits and keeping a claim up to date can sometimes feel overwhelming. Trusted online guidance can help you check what support may be available.
- Eligibility can change when your income, health, housing or personal circumstances change, so it is worth checking regularly.
- Check benefits and financial support on GOV.UK
- GOV.UK benefits information
- Disability and carer benefits
- Citizens Advice – benefits
- Your Support Worker or Housing Officer may also be able to help you understand where to obtain specialist benefits advice.
Advice for avoiding scams
- Be cautious if someone unexpectedly asks for money, bank details, passwords, PIN numbers or one-time security codes.
- A genuine bank or organisation should not pressure you to transfer money immediately or move funds into a so-called safe account.
- Do not click suspicious links in emails or text messages. Contact the organisation using a telephone number or website that you know is genuine.
- Be especially careful with unexpected investment offers, prize claims, delivery messages, online shopping requests and callers pretending to be from the police, a bank or a government department.
- If you believe that money has been taken from your account, contact your bank immediately.
- To report fraud or cybercrime, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online reporting service.
- Speak to a member of Moreways Healthcare staff if you are unsure whether a message, telephone call or request is genuine.