Get help managing your money. There's free information advice and services available to help you with your finances, debt and aim to help you plan for the future.
Call us about your rent arrears
Call 0800 0856575 and speak to a Rents Officer
Welfare Benefits and Money Advice Team
(Hounslow Homes Tenants and Leaseholders only)
Call 0800 085 6575 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (excluding bank holidays)
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
You can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) who provide confidential benefit and assessment advice and debt counselling. Telephone: 0870 1269500 (for all areas)
Hounslow – 45 Treaty Centre, High Street Hounslow,
Feltham – The Centre, Feltham
Brentford and Chiswick – Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick,
You can also log on to the CAB website - www.adviceguide.org.uk/
National Debtline
call 0808 808 400 Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and Saturdays 9.30am-1pm. There's a 24 hour voicemail so you can leave a message to request an information pack.
More debt helplines:
www.mymoneysteps.org is an online free debt service
www.creditaction.org.uk offers free budgeting assistance and is a money education charity.
London Borough of Hounslow
Visit the London Borough of Hounslow's website for help, information, downloadable leaflets and documents on:
Benefits - all the different types of benfits, rules about working, Pension Credit, welfare benefits and money advice
Benefits Advice
Housing and Council Tax Benefits, Civic Centre, Lampton Road, TW3 4DN
- Tel 020 8583 4242 – Civic Centre opening times 9am-4.15pm.
You can make an appointment on-line at www.hounslow.gov.uk or see below for free calculators to check your benefit entitlements.
Job Centre Plus, 10 Montague Road, Hounslow TW3 1LE - Tel 0845 604 3719 or to claim on-line go to Direct.gov.uk
Benefits Calculator
Free Calculators - work out your entitlement to benefits an tax credits or you can use the Hounslow Online Benefits Calculator on the London Borough of Hounslow website
Department for Work and Pensions(DWP)
The DWP operates two main services, Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Careers Service
Direct.Gov
Public services all in one place visit www.direct.gov.uk
Free Money Advice Healthcheck
Get help, advice and an easy-to-follow personalised action plan with the top three things you can do to make the most of your money right now, and to plan for future goals. Best of all, it’s free and it’s unbiased. The Money Advice Service won’t recommend a particular product or provider or try to sell you anything.
Money Advice Service
Visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk or call 0300 500 5000 opening times Mon-Fri 8am-8pm or Sat 9am-1pm
Shelter Housing and Homelessness Charity
Information and advice for anyone including tenants, leaseholders, private householders and tenants and the homeless. Shelter, are a national charity that aims to help and support people in housing need
StepChange Debt Charity
StepChange have been providing free debt help, budgeting advice and debt management plans for over 20 years. In addition, they also offer insolvency, bankruptcy and 'Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) help.
For an anonymous solution in just 20 minutes try, Debt Remedy, their online debt help tool.
Christians Against Poverty
Help people in debt by providing support through local churches to people of any faith and background. Visit their website or call 0800 328 0006 to make an appointment at the nearest centre in Ealing.
Legal Aid
www.gov.uk/legal-aid or call 0845 3454345 they are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm and Saturday, 9am to 12:30pm
Calls cost 4p a minute from a BT landline. Mobile calls usually cost more.
Turn2us
a charitable organisation that advices on benefits and grants. Website address is wwwturn2us.org.uk . Alternatively you can call 0808 802 2000 opening times Monday to Friday 8am-8pm. You can also access their online entitlement calculator
Direct.gov.uk
www.direct.gov.uk for an on line benefit adviser
Disability Rights
A national disability organisation - visit their website at www.disabilityrightsuk.org
Independent Living Advice Line – Tel 0845 026 4748 opening times Monday and Thursday 9am-1pm
Disability Students Helpline – Tel 0800 328 5050
Furniture Projects
The William Wilberforce Trust
A charitable trust that provides used quality furniture at low prices, if you are on benefits you can also receive a 25% discount of the price by referral through a support worker (including Hounslow Homes) or you can self-refer if you have proof of benefits. Will also arrange delivery for £10. 1053 Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9BW - Tel 020 7052-0425
Referral forms on line at www.furniture.org.uk
Hounslow Furniture Project
Non-profit making provider of used quality furniture, at low prices. Carnegie Hall, Northcote Avenue, Isleworth, TW7 7JQ.
British Heart Foundation Charity Shop
Hounslow High Street (Parade opposite Bus garage). Reasonably priced used quality furniture and electrical goods.
Banks and Savings
Thamesbank Credit Union
Thamesbank Credit Union can offer tenants a range of affordable loans at low interest rates. You may need a small loan to:
- Get back to work
- Get back into education
- Pay down rent or council tax arrears
- Pay down high interest rate loans to doorstop lenders
- Buy essential household items such as fridges or cookers
For more information call 020 8573 8010 to arrange an appointment where you will get help completing the application form. Thamesbank charge just £13 in interest on a loan of £100 over 12 months and this compares with 183% in interest being charged by doorstep lenders.
You can also visit their website www.thamesbank.org
Thamesbank Credit Union is a member owned and managed financial co-operative and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Registration no 416486
Co-operative Bank
Offers a basic bank account called the Cashminder for details contact www.co-operativebank.co.uk . To open an account you have to apply by telephone on 0845 602 7057.
Barclays Bank
Offers a basic bank account called the Cash Card Account for details contact www.barclays.co.uk to open you have to apply at a local branch:-
489, London Road, Isleworth, TW7 4 BZ
203, High Street, Brentford, TW8 8AD
210, High Street, Hounslow, TW3 1DL
72/74 High Street, Feltham, TW13 4DD
To find other banks that offer basic bank accounts go on-line at www.moneyfacts.co.uk
Low cost Insurance
Hounslow Homes offers a low-cost contents insurance to Hounslow Homes secure tenants, prices start at 95p per week payable to your rent account.
We strongly advice you to have some form of contents insurance as your contents including decoration are not covered by Hounslow Homes.
Age UK
offer a low cost insurance to the Over 50’s on www.ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 731 3903 for more information
Employment Advice/Opportunities
REDS10
Are offering construction apprenticeships for those who live in Hounslow, unemployed and over 18 years old. This scheme is funded by the European Union Social Fund, to find out how you can join the scheme contact Reds10 on 020 8545 8087 or visit www.reds10.com. They particularly wish to attract under-represented groups in the construction industry.
Pinnacle PSG
Are offering advice and guidance on getting back into work on their Employment Tracks programme:-
What is Employment Tracks?
Employment Tracks is a European Social Fund, Hounslow Council and London Councils funded programme, delivered by Pinnacle People, to help residents in Hounslow gain vocational skills and help them to find jobs with local employers.
To find out more, see if you’re eligible and to enrol on Employment Tracks, contact Edwardine Simms by phone or text on: 07872 450490, or email her at edwardine.simms@pinnaclepeople.co.uk Find out more on their website: www.pinnaclepeople.co.uk
Job Centre Plus
10, Montague Road, Hounslow, TW3 1LE, call 0845 604 3719 or visit www.direct.gov.uk to search for jobs on-line
Tenant Training
We offer free training to our Tenants and Leaseholders. For information on courses available visit the Tenant Training page on this site or call 020 8583 4802.
