Winter update 2023

If you are supporting someone who is struggling financially, we are trying to encourage people to address any arrears sooner rather than later. 

We are carrying out one to one appointments by telephone, if a face to face appointment is needed we will try to accommodate this.

We can help if someone you are working with has fallen behind with payments for:

• Council Tax
• Energy Bills
• Credit Cards
• Loans
• Rent/Mortgage payments
• Catalogues
• Other payment arrears

We can also give advice on:

• Budgeting
• Savings on Gas and Electric
• Energy Efficiency
• Warm Home Discount

Debt Advice

We are seeing an increase in referrals for debt advice so the wait for an appointment is longer than usual. Alison is still taking referrals and running telephone appointments. Face-to-face appointments can be requested.

We are also looking to recruit another money adviser to work alongside Alison.

Money Advice can be contacted by calling 01204 332916 or moneyadvice@bolton.gov.uk

Energy Advice

It’s difficult to find a cheaper deal right now but we can check you are on the cheapest tariff with your supplier. We are also delivering Keep Warm Keep Well group sessions, giving guidance on:

●Energy Efficiency and savings – how can we use less energy and make savings by making some behavioural changes

● Warm Home Discount

● Extra Care Register (previously known as Priority Service Register)

● Switching tariff and provider – information and advice

● Signpost to further help and support

If you would like us to run a session for an existing group you work with please contact us on 01204 331968 or moneyskills@bolton.gov.uk

Electricity North West - Extra Care Register

The Priority Services Register is now known as the Extra Care Register, if you had already signed up there is no need to register again. This service is dedicated to households who may need extra help and support. There are 14,000 residents in Bolton who should be on the register but are not. Any help and support you could give us in promoting this would be appreciated.

Household Support Fund

For the last two years Money Skills were given funding from the Household Support Fund that we used to provide residents with various items to stay warm in winter. We are aware of new funding becoming available the details are still being finalised. Once we have the go ahead we will be sure to advertise it and spread the word so we can help as many people as possible.

More information on the Household Support Fund

Cost of Living

Part of the Council and partners response to the Cost of Living situation is a website that has been established with key services and contacts to help Bolton residents during this financially difficult time.

See what help and support is available

Watch a video from our November Cost of Living Event highlighting the services who came together to provide advice and information on the help and support available in Bolton.

Our February Cost of Living events attended by services such as Bolton Care and Repair, Citizens Advice, UCAN centres, Family Information Services were free events open to Bolton residents. There may be more events like these in the future, we will be sure to advertise them.

Homeless Prevention

Tracey has been in her new role for over a year now working closely with the Housing Options team carrying out prevention work. This includes providing advice on section notices issued by landlords who want to evict their tenant, it may be that Tracey can negotiate with the landlord to save the tenancy! She can also provide full debt advice alongside this.

The Prevention team can be contacted by calling 01204 332916 or emailing homelessprevention@bolton.gov.uk

Passport to Housing

These tailored sessions provide information on a wide range of topics for those moving into their first or a new tenancy, this includes covering what bills a household has to pay, cost of furniture items and more. Sessions have been successfully held at 4 outreach locations delivering both 1 to 1 and group sessions.

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