Money and benefit advice
Money Advice
Money worries can be extremely stressful and isolating. With the cost of living rising at the at the highest rate in 30 years, these worries are increasing for many people.
You can find lots of information and help available on the Crisis Support website.
We have a dedicated Money Advice team that provide free, confidential and independent money and debt advice to:
- Derby Homes tenants
- Derby Homes and Derby City Council employees
Service offer
- help you to increase your income - including benefits you may be entitled to
- help you reduce your bills
- help you plan your budget
- check whether you’re accountable for your debts
- help you prioritise your debts
- negotiate with the people or companies you owe money to
- discuss your options for becoming debt free
- help you with Debt Relief Order/Bankruptcy applications
Not a Derby Homes customer?
If you’re not a Derby Homes customer, you can still access free debt advice from:
You can also get free housing advice from Shelter.
Our Money Advice team is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
If you have a complaint about our financial services, you can ask for it to be reviewed by the Financial Ombudsman. For more information, see our section on Complaints
Benefits advice
We manage benefit advice for all residents of Derby on behalf of Derby City Council. The dedicated Welfare Rights team offer free, confidential and independent advice on welfare benefits. The service is available to:
- Everyone who lives in Derby city
- Derby Homes and Derby City Council employees
Service offer
- Specialist advice on welfare benefits.
- Advice on which benefits you may be entitled to.
- Advice on how to claim benefits.
- Help you to complete disability benefit forms .
- Help you challenge benefit decisions.
Refused welfare benefits
If you think you’ve been refused benefits unfairly, we can help you appeal the decision. We can help with:
- mandatory reconsiderations
- appeal forms
- representation at tribunals
Helping you in the community
We offer a weekly advice session at:
Indian Community Centre
Rawdon Street
Derby
DE23 6QR
| When | How |
|---|---|
|
Tuesdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm |
By appointment only. To book an appointment, telephone Derby Advice on 01332 643394 |
Supporting mental health service users
We also provide a service based in Derby City Council's Mental Health Social Care teams. We support staff in those teams and other NHS mental health teams to help their service users with benefit problems and to ensure they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. We also support mental health service users directly, as required. Referrals to this service are generally made by staff in the mental health teams
How much benefit am I entitled to?
The amount of benefit you are entitled to depends on your personal circumstances. Contact Derby Advice to find out how much benefit you may be entitled to. This is a complex calculation and it is helpful to speak to an adviser to get a full and accurate assessment.
The Government provides an online, independent, free and anonymous benefits calculators to check what you could be entitled to. This will give you an estimate of:
- the benefits you could get
- how much your benefit payments could be
- how your benefits will be affected if you start work or increase your hours
- how your benefits will be affected if your circumstances change - for example, if you have a child or move in with your partner.