Our Financial Hardship Adviser can offer free independent, impartial information and guidance on a range of financial issues for adults who find themselves at risk of, or in financial crisis.
The service is open to both new and existing clients of Equal Lives who experience disabling barriers and are living in Norfolk.
We offer non-judgemental guidance around financial concerns by providing tips, tools and techniques to help people budget, reduce debt and maximise their income. We want to be able to empower our clients and help them find solutions and foster healthy financial habits.
Support we can provide:
Reduce outgoings
- Hints and tips on reducing your outgoings
- Budget planning
- Consumer deals including energy saving tips
- Debt advice
Boosting income
- Conducting welfare benefit checks, including giving information and guidance on completing benefit applications
- Grants and additional funding checks
- Assist clients with completion of Disability Related Expenses (DRE) – this can result in a reduction of the amount you have to pay for your non-residential care with Norfolk County Council.
Additional services and advice where required:
- Credit score and how to boost it
- Reading credit reports
- The effect on interest rates on individual, this includes mortgage repayments and savings
- Finding the best balance transfers and if consolidation is right for the client
- Information on how to get money for swapping bank accounts
- Shopping – hints and tips on how to help ‘shop smarter’
- How to complain and reclaim from mis-selling of packaged bank accounts to finding old pension providers
- Support in the understanding of information, letters, and documents provided by organisations regarding the client’s financial wellbeing
Please note: We have one Financial Hardship Adviser who works part-time, so capacity is limited.
For further information, visit the Equal Lives website
