North Warwickshire crisis schemes for paying bills

Families that are local to the North Warwickshire borough can get help from the council as well as charity organisations that partner with the government. Most of the assistance is part of the local welfare scheme, and this programme can not only provide heating bill help, free food, and debt advice but it also links residents to other services.

The first place to drop in at is the council office or Citizens Advice centre at The Parish Rooms, Welcome St, Atherstone CV9 1DU (phone 1827 712852). There are customer support teams at both of these offices that will assess the residents needs as well as answer any questions. Based on that, they will provide help in the form of prepaid cards to make direct payments on bills, in kind goods, or linkage to other groups in the county. Some of the services available in a crisis are below.

North Warwickshire borough financial aid programmes

The first scheme that can help in an emergency, or that assists families living in poverty, is the Local Welfare Scheme. It can pay for heating bills, food vouchers, and more. Credits are given for energy bills as well from the council scheme, or it covers transportation costs and white goods. When someone from the borough has no other means of help, and no other way to get the money they need for the crisis, then the government may help from this scheme.

Emergency welfare is for people over the age of 16, victims of domestic violence, the vulnerable, caregivers, older people, and others. Assistance can only be provided at most 3 times per year per the criteria in place, and the crisis needs to be one-time and not due to ongoing circumstances.

Welfare is not a cash benefit. The North Warwickshire council will instead will provide vouchers (such as for food or clothes) or pre-paid cards to pay for energy costs. Or if transportation is needed, a voucher is given and other forms of in-kind, non-cash support is given. This source of funding is only for residents of North Warwickshire or those with a strong commitment.

When not qualified for the local welfare scheme, the authorities will provide the resident access to other services. Those are listed below. One of those that is always in high demand will be food bank vouchers, but in general the adviser will also complete a Customer referral form if one is needed by a partner organisation. While they are not an official government safety net scheme, they can fill a void that the client may have.

Additional services in the borough

One key partner is the New Central Credit Union. They work with the client, council add Citizens Advice to provide emergency funds to a family as well as other service, including budgeting and debt reduction programmes. Many people that do not qualify for the welfare scheme are referred here.

The credit union can provide low interest rate loans to the borrower, and the APR is often less than 20%. When that money is issued, the person can use the funds for any expense or need they have. Whether it is for health care, utility bills, rent, or another expense, the funds can be used. Note that the applicant needs to sign up to be a member of the New Central Credit Union in order to apply for these personal loans.

The trained advisers from the council may also link the client to another scheme, including food banks, bond schemes, or other housing. Some of those services include:

-The North Warwickshire Borough Council Housing Advice and Homelessness Department, which helps with evictions, deposit schemes, and LHA (Local Housing Allowance).
-Then there is of course Citizen’s Advice, which provides a number of financial literacy programmes to clients. Anyone seeking free advice on their debts, looking for a new job, or other support can drop in here.
-Central government schemes, job centres, budgeting loans, and much more may also be available to struggling families.

There are two telephone phone number to ring in North Warwickshire, and they are 0800 4081448 as well as 01926 359182. A trained adviser will be available to answer questions and then direct the caller to a scheme for them that can them pay their bills.