Money advice for customers living in York

Are you one of thousands of residents living in York who are not claiming the benefits and support available to you?
The cost of living in York is very high and poverty is a real issue so it’s even more important to get your finances in order.

‘York Talk Money’ is a campaign which will run across the city between Monday 7 to Friday 18 July and aims to help residents to maximise their income, minimise their outgoings and get good quality advice on all things money.

Therefore, it is vital to work on your financial fitness, to feel comfortable and in control of your financial position. This means having the knowledge and confidence to make the most of your money, both daily and through planned and unplanned events. There are some easy steps which you can take to improve your financial fitness, including:

• Getting the money you are entitled to; by using an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator york.gov.uk/BenefitsCalculator
• Check out www.york.gov.uk/benefits to find out about local support schemes.
• Reduce your outgoings, by making savings on your household bills and getting help if you’re struggling. Get hints, tips and advice at livewellyork.co.uk/talkmoney
• Get ready for special events by spreading the costs of Christmas, summer and going back to school, and by regularly setting some money aside. Saving as little as £5 per week for a year will result in over £250 available for those special events. Open a Community First Credit Union savings account and you could be eligible for a £25 bonus. For more information, please visit communityfirstcu.co.uk/savings
• Don’t struggle alone: if you need assistance with benefits or money, council services and other local organisations can help. Visit york.gov.uk/BenefitsAdviceor your local community venue to find out more about local advice services.

Remember, here at 54North Homes, our Money Matters Team can also help you if you are struggling with money.
Our Money Matters Caseworker can provide free and confidential advice and guidance whatever your circumstances.

Money Matters are experts in benefits and money, so if you’re worried about increasing bills, getting into debt or you just need some handy tips and hints on discounts and grants that could help you through these difficult times, you can speak to us. We’re here to help you.

Here are just some of the ways the team can support you:

Benefits Advice

The team can check your benefit entitlements, maximise your income and help you to challenge benefit decision that are wrong.

Managing your bills

We’ll help you to work out where you can make savings on your bills and cut costs. We can point you in the right direction to get this sorted and help you get support.

Budgeting

Creating a personal budget is a great first step towards taking control and is a really smart investment of your time. We can give you advice about how to make a personal budget planner. When you’re finished, you’ll know how much money you have left at the end of each month – and if you can make savings.

Debt advice

We’ve partnered with the Money Adviser Network (MAN) so can get you debt advice quickly – sometimes on the same day. We can also advise on loan sharks and illegal lending and sign post you to trustworthy alternatives such as credit unions.

Rent

Every 54North Homes customer has a dedicated Income Officer who you can speak to if you have any concerns about paying your rent. We do everything we can to make paying rent as easy as possible, finding a rent payment plan that fits best with your income and circumstances, and getting you set up with a direct debit so you never fall behind. Remember, you can also view rent statements and manage your payments all online with your My54North account which is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Contact us

If you want to speak to one of our Income Officers or our Money Matters Caseworker, please call Tel: 0345 521 1993 or Email: hello@54northhomes.co.uk

Our debt advice service is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) FRN 775843.