Financial wellbeing for housing residents
Support residents as they budget for mortgages, rent and bills, adjust to Universal Credit, or move on to Right to Buy or Help to Buy schemes. These free resources are aimed at housing associations, councils, third-sector organisations, utilities firms and arm’s length management organisations.
What is financial wellbeing?
Financial wellbeing is about feeling secure and in control. It is about making the most of your money day to day, dealing with the unexpected, and being on track for a healthy financial future. In short: financially resilient, confident and empowered.
Help with budgeting and bills
Signpost to our money guidance for residents struggling with utility billsOpens in a new window on MoneyHelper.
Creditor toolkit
Creditors from all sectors can benefit by collaborating with debt advice agencies. Download our good practice guide for practical case studies and ways creditors can collaborate with debt advisers to ensure that people who can repay their debts do so, and that creditors receive money owed.
Creditor toolkit guideOpens in a new window (PDF/A, 2.8MB)
Council Tax
Our guidance for councils is designed to support fairer outcomes, improve resident engagement with councils and utilities providers, and sustainable arrears payments, through greater collaboration with debt advice agencies. The resource is modelled on best practice examples from councils and utilities providers in England and Wales.
Guide for councils and utilities firms: Supportive Council Tax RecoveryOpens in a new window (PDF/A, 11.7MB)
Our Money Navigator toolOpens in a new window can help you support residents who need money guidance but don’t know where to start. They can answer a few brief questions and receive results tailored to their situation. Specialist support from partners is available for more complex queries.
Universal Credit
Our Universal Credit (UC) money manager toolOpens in a new window supports residents on UC payments. Residents can use this accessible tool to help make budgeting decisions and plan ahead to keep up with rent.
Residents can use the tool to:
- get information and advice based on your personal circumstances
- work out the best ways to pay their rent
- find out which bank accounts are best for managing their payments
- get money saving tips for cutting the cost of household bills
- find out what to do and where to get help if they are struggling
Choosing a bank account
Our guide to choosing the right bank accountOpens in a new window supports residents to choose an account that best fits their needs and includes a video guide to opening a bank account.
Debt advice
For residents struggling to keep up with rent and bills, signpost to local debt advice support online, over the phone or face to face.
Learn more about where to get free debt adviceOpens in a new window
Our Bill Prioritiser can help residents put their bills and payments in the right order. If they're struggling to pay, it will tell them in two easy steps what to do before you miss a payment.
Money Adviser Network
The Money Adviser Network brings together some of the country’s best known debt advice providers so individuals can access free, confidential and independent debt advice straight away or at a time that suits them.
Learn more and get involved with the NetworkOpens in a new window
Guides to help you support residents
Right to Buy and mortgage support
Getting on the property ladder is a big change in financial circumstances; our mortgage and buying guides can support those making this change.
Right to Buy and Help to Buy
Support your eligible tenants by offering answers to frequently asked questions about the schemes.
Simple guides to credit
If residents need to borrow money and are thinking of getting a credit card or loan, our guides will help them to consider their options.
Starting or enlarging a family
Only 41% of people seek money guidance during life events. Use these online tools to supply residents with guidance at the key moments, such as during maternity or paternity.
Develop your money guidance skills
Money Guiders is a pilot programme running throughout 2021 for front-line workers in a range of sectors. Support residents with money matters by developing your money guidance skills, and join a new community of money guiders across the UK, to take your help further.
Embed money guidance into your communications
We offer a wide range of guidance and ways to share it with your customers.
Get free, tailored support to build financial wellbeing by contacting our regional partnerships team. They will help you find the guidance best suited to your residents and employees, and offer options on how to communicate it with them.