Experiencing mental health symptoms in response to debt and financial changes or pressures is common. Money worries have been linked to insomnia, oversleeping, mood changes, impaired memory and concentration. This can feel very worrying to experience and it can be helpful to speak to someone about what you are going through.
There is help available, and many people who have had support to tackle their money issues - such as by speaking to a debt advisor - report an improvement in their mental wellbeing.
Below is a list of resources which may be helpful.
Help with paying for essentials
Household Support Fund from Brighton and Hove City Council
Extra help may be available for households struggling to pay for food, fuel and other essential costs.
Help with the cost of travel to appointments
If you are travelling to attend a face-to-face appointment with us, you may be eligible to claim back the cost. You will need to meet the following criteria:
Have been referred to our service by a medical professional (e.g. GP). Self-referrals will not be eligible.
Be receiving benefits as outlined in this 'Get Help with Travel Costs' document
Claims must be made within 3 months of the travel costs being incurred.
To claim, you will need to fill out a HC5T claim form. If you require a printed version of the form, please contact our admin team on spft.bhwellbeing@nhs.net to request one. More information about the full process, along with other support available for helping with health costs, is available in this NHS guide.
Help with the cost of prescriptions
Use this eligibility checker to find out if you’re entitled to any free NHS prescriptions - it takes just 3 minutes to find out.
Pre-payment certificates are cheaper if you can afford to pay for 3 months or 1 year upfront.
For more cost-cutting tips about prescriptions this article from Money Saving Expert is really useful.
Pause debt interest with Breathing Space
If you are in debt, one option you may be entitled to apply for is a government scheme called ‘Breathing Space’.
This is like pressing pause on accruing interest and being contacted by creditors for at least 60 days.
If you want to apply for Breathing Space you will need to speak to a free debt advisor (from the list below) who can guide you and support your application.
For more information, please take a look at these videos:
Breathing Space explained (video)
Breathing Space explained (BSL video)
National helplines
It can feel overwhelming choosing who to call and making that first call. It doesn’t matter which one of the organisations you call - all debt advisors are accredited and give free, specialist, confidential advice about how to tackle debts.
If you can’t get through, try another number on the list.
Money Advice Service
Offers free and impartial money advice, set up by the government.
Telephone: 0800 138 7777
Type Talk: 18001 0800 915 4622
Whatsapp: 07701 342744
StepChange
Online and telephone free, confidential debt advice.
0800 138 1111
National Debtline
Free independent debt advice on telephone or webchat and online tools.
0808 808 4000
Debt Advice Foundation
Debt advice, tools and resources.
0800 043 40 50
Debt Support Trust
Telephone or online debt advice.
0800 085 0226
Local debt advice
E-wellbeing money management
Financial worries can have an impact on your mental health. The e-wellbeing website can offer professional support, tips and advice for money management.
Money Advice Plus
Specialist debt and benefit advice, casework and support.
01273 664 000
Moneyworks
Here to help Brighton & Hove residents save money, make money and manage their money better.
The services are for anyone who is struggling to make ends meet. Drop-ins and helpline support.
0800 988 7037
Citizens Advice Brighton and Hove
Provide free confidential and impartial advice.
08082 78 78 15
St Luke’s Advice Service
Provides free advice, information and help with form filling in relation to debt, benefits and pension credit.
01273 549203
Brighton & Hove CAP Debt Centre - Brighton Light Trust
Provides free face to face debt advice and comprehensive debt solutions.
Run in partnership with Holland Road Baptist Church, Hove.
01273 732111
Support for people with disabilities
Possability People
For help with disability advice, welfare benefits and a range of other issues.
01273 894050
07718 424214 (if you are deaf or hard of hearing)
They can help with enquiries about;
Disability benefits (ESA, UC, PIP, AA, Carers Allowance, WTC)
Disability benefits appeals
Some pension credit enquiries
Some Council Tax enquiries
Fuel debt or changing fuel providers
Utilities debt
Information on equipment or assistive technology
Accessible holidays
Food bank referrals
Amaze
For families with disabled children and young people in Sussex.
01273 772289
Support for young people
Youth Advice Centre in Brighton
Offers housing advice, family mediation, floating support, advice and support around emotional health and wellbeing and debts and benefits.
Budgeting and money management advice and support with benefit claims. Access to specialist benefit advice.
01273 624432
Money self-help tools and toolkits
Toolkits:
Benefits Calculators:
Budgeting tools: