Anyone in Winchester District can access Citizens Advice for free, confidential advice and support. This includes support with debt and other money worries, understanding benefits entitlements and applying for benefits, accessing emergency support such as food banks and energy grants, plus advice on housing and employment rights, relationship queries, immigration, and consumer issues. You can contact them for free on 0808 278 7861 or email advice@cawinchesterdistrict.org.uk.

• If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to additional financial help. Complete a benefit calculation to find out if you may be eligible.
• For a step-by-step guide to claiming Universal Credit, you can use our handy UC Tool Helper.
• If you are over the State Pension Age, you could be eligible for Pension Credit, which tops up pension income and can help with day-to-day living costs. More information is available at gov.uk/pension-credit.
• A maximum £30 discount has been awarded to all Council Tax Reduction claimants that have an outstanding Council Tax liability for the 2024/25 financial year. Further information is available at Council Tax Support Fund 2024.
• You may have been entitled to payments to help with the cost of living if you were getting certain benefits or tax credits on certain dates between 2022 and 2024. More information is available at Cost of Living Payments 2022 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• The Government's Help for Households website has lots of resources to support households with bills, childcare costs, transport costs, and much more.
• If you're worried about meeting your housing costs, you may be eligible for Discretionary Housing Payments.
• The Household Support Fund also has funding available to anyone in the Winchester district who is struggling with housing costs. To see if you can access this support, contact 01962 848 163 or email homelessness@winchester.gov.uk
• This Money & Mental Health Toolkit will help you understand, manage and improve mental health and financial wellbeing.
• The MoneyHelper offers free and impartial money and pension guidance.
• You may be able to get help with essential costs. This could help if you’re struggling to afford things like: energy and water bills, food & essential items. Further infomation is available at Household Support Fund | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk) 

You may be able to get help with essential costs. This could help if you’re struggling to afford things like: energy and water bills, food & essential items. Further infomation is available at Household Support Fund | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk) 

Water 

• If you are struggling with paying your water bill, contact Southern Water directly. You can find out about further support with paying your water bill, including grant and discount eligibility, via Southern Water's website.
• If you're on a water meter and someone in your household receives certain means-tested benefits, you could get 15-85% off your water bill. Download Southern Water's application form or call 0344 346 1010. 
• The WaterSure Scheme gives support for people who are struggling with their water bill and who have a high water usage. Find out if you are eligible for the WaterSure Scheme and how you can apply.

Broadband and phone packages

• BT offers an 'essentials' package for broadband and phone line for £15 per calender month if a person is in receipt of the following benefits:
  • Universal Credit (all claimants)
  • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (Eligibility rules apply)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (Eligibility rules apply) Income Support.
  • This is for new and existing customers and will need your National Insurance number when applying. Please visit BT for more information.
• Many other providers are also offering cheaper packages, collectively known as 'Social Tariffs', for those receiving income support such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. A full list of these packages can be found on Ofcom's website.

Council Tax

• If you are having difficulty in paying your Council Tax contact the the Revenues' Section on 01962 848 288. We may be able to rearrange your instalments to make them more manageable. We can also tell you about any discounts or other reductions you may be entitled to.
• If you are on a low income, you may be entitled to Council Tax Reduction.
• The Exceptional Hardship Fund payment is an extra payment to help towards reducing your Council Tax liability. They may be paid to people whether or not they are receiving Council Tax Reduction and can be paid towards a council tax charge on an occupied or unoccupied property. Further information is available at Exceptional Hardship Fund

• Anyone can access free debt help from Christians Against Poverty. You can contact the Winchester branch by calling 01962 830 801.
• Debt can quickly spiral out of control so it's important to think carefully before taking out a loan. Always be wary of loan sharks and, if you're thinking of borrowing money, make sure to check that your lender is listed on the Financial Services Register.
• Online and telephone specialist debt support can also be accessed through Debt Charity StepChange. 
• Breathing Space is a government scheme that could help relieve some of the pressure and stress caused by being in debt. Further advice around breathing space and how to enter it can also be accessed through Citizens Advice.
• The Exceptional Hardship Fund payment is an extra payment to help towards reducing your Council Tax liability. They may be paid to people whether or not they are receiving Council Tax Reduction and can be paid towards a council tax charge on an occupied or unoccupied property. Further information is available at Exceptional Hardship Fund
• If you're having financial concerns, you can find additional support and advice on the Connect to Support Hampshire website.
• If you've got bad credit, the Wessex Community Bank may be able to help you access financial services, such as setting up a current account.

• Knowing your budget is important. Citizens Advice have a useful budget calculator to help you understand your money.
• Visit our energy efficiency page for some useful tips on reducing your energy costs
• Plan your journeys - if you've got several outtings you need to make, completing them all in one round trip can save on petrol.
• The way you drive matters - from accelerating slowly to reducing excess weight, there's lots you can do to reduce costs. Visit the AA's page to learn more.
• Keep an eye on your subscriptions. Checking through your bank transactions can be a good way of finding subscriptions that you don't need anymore. HSBC has some good advice for deciding what to keep.
• From setting an 'eat me first' shelf to keeping an eye on portion sizes, Love Food Hate Waste has lots of good food habits to help you reduce food waste and save money
• Love Food Hate Waste also has a handy portion calculator that can help you make sure you're only buying what you need.
• Shop seasonal - fruits, veg and other products are often cheaper when they're in season. To find out what's in season, visit Eat the Seasons.
• Many Supermarkets sell oddly shaped fruit and veg for less than their regular counterparts. Tesco, Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons are just a few of those stocking 'wonky' products for less.
• When it comes to personal hygiene, it's easy to overdo it with shampoo, body wash and other products. Good Housekeeping has a useful guide telling you how much you really need to be using.