Welfare schemes help pay bills in Allerdale

Anyone who is in a financial hardship in the Allerdale Borough can turn to the council for the Ways to Welfare grant or loan scheme. The council provide funds, vouchers, or loans for paying bills, including rent from discretionary housing payments, fuel bills, transportation and more. In addition, families and individuals can also get linked to other organisations, as the Allerdale Council partners with 10 different agencies to provide financial help.

All of the resources are listed below. Some of them, such as the Cumbria Law Centre or Ways to Welfare scheme, are offered across the county. Other forms of emergency financial help for paying bills or free items are aimed at people who live in the Allerdale Borough, and they are funded by local resources.

Welfare financial assistance from council

This is the main council scheme. There is emergency financial help (or free vouchers) for families on a low income, with little savings, or who are on government benefits. This can help people on Universal Credit, Disability, Job Seekers Allowance, or other benefits.

Welfare includes interest free loans or grants. It is part of Ways for Welfare. It will not provide cash, but rather welfare either gives free items or vouchers for paying bills. The type of help is discretionary. It includes, but is not limited to:

-Pre-paid cards, which the Cumbria County scheme provides. It can pay electric, fuel bills, gasoline, or other bills.
-Furniture or household goods, including cookers, appliances, white goods and more.
-Clothes for work or winter.
-Loans, which the Allerdale council provided in partnership with the Allerdale Credit Union at 49 Wood St, Maryport CA15 6LD. The funds can help pay bills, living expenses, or emergency costs.

Welfare can pay other expenses too. It will not help with rent or mortgages. Rather the Allerdale Borough will offer rental or deposit help from either bonds or the discretionary housing payment (DHP) scheme. These are both at preventing homelessness in the borough as well as county at large. There are also other central government energy bill schemes such as Winter Fuel Payments and other grant based aid.

Free advice and assistance from Allerdale partners

As noted, the Allerdale Borough council works with other charities as well as not for profit organisations in the community. There are several agencies. Often this service is given at the same time as emergency financial help for bills.

Free legal advice from solicitors and attorneys is offered from the Cumbria Law Centre. They can help the working poor and others on housing issues. If a landlord is trying to evict from a flat or home, a lawyer may assist. They also assist with unsafe homes, disputes over rent or damage deposits, and more. Credit card debt and help in getting government benefits may be arranged too. The post and phone number is Cumbria Law Centre 8 Spencer Street, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 1BG. For information the telephone is 01228 515129.

CAN, or the Allerdale and Cumbria Advice Network, is a referral organization. They link clients to charities, churches, food pantries, and other groups. The information is on the website, and the address is http://www.cumbriaadvicenetwork.org.uk/can/. Or even find other information above financial help from churches

Money management and debt advice or help is given by the Allerdale Credit Union as well as Citizens Advice. The Credit union is effective at getting loan, debt, or mortgage help. Also, low cost borrowing is available for paying bills or housing costs. The contact information is above.

As far as Allerdale Citizens Advice, they also provide assistance. Everything from employment to consumer debt issues, help in getting welfare benefits or housing is offered. Case workers from Citizens Advice can also help clients apply for financial help. Some of the main schemes include welfare, DHP, Fuel Payments or Energy Bill help and much more. The contact information is Town Hall, Oxford Street, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2RS. Phone 01900 604 735.

All of these schemes and programmes are for people local to the Allerdale Borough. Other forms of assistance can be provided too. The post of the local authorities is Allerdale Borough Council, Allerdale House, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3YJ.