Financial Advice

If you are struggling to manage your finances there are a range of things you can do.

If you are already on benefits, check our advice for benefits claimants.

There are also ways we can help if you don't normally claim benefits, particularly with paying your council tax.

Our Welfare Intervention Officers work to support people who need help with any housing or benefit related issues. They can give you practical advice and signpost you to other helpful organisations, including those that can help with finance queries.

Kent Money Advice Hub

Kent Money Advice Hub is a pilot led by Citizens Advice in north and west Kent, in partnership with a network of Citizens Advice offices in Kent, Debt Free London and funded by Kent County Council’s Helping Hands Scheme. The service is available for anyone who is worried about money and aims to encourage those who may be reluctant to come forward for money advice to take the first step.

People can access the Kent Money Advice Hub by visiting www.kentmoneyadvicehub.com (with video call and webchat functions) or calling 0800 808 5622 (Monday – Friday between 8am – 8pm) or from kiosks which have been installed across north and west Kent. Ashford's can be found at:

• The Willow Children’s Centre, Brookfield Rd, Ashford. Open 9am to 4.30pm Mon, Wed and Fri and 8.30am to 4.30pm Tue and Thu.

The Money and Pensions Service - MoneyHelper

MoneyHelper is the consumer-facing service backed by the Government that merged the Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pensions Wise back in 2021. It provides free and impartial money and pensions guidance for people all across the UK.

The recent rise in the cost-of-living has presented many of us with unexpected challenges. New research suggests that over 12 million people are now borrowing money for food or essential bills and half of them are doing so for the first time in their lives.

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has launched a campaign to reach people who are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, which runs alongside the Government’s Help for Households.

It focuses on MaPS’ MoneyHelper service, which provides free money guidance from an expert in a range of different formats, such as online. webchat, WhatsApp and telephone.

If you’re already struggling, or worried things are heading that way, it can feel like there’s no way forward. However, the first step to solving money problems is knowing where to turn.

Visit the MoneyHelper website and find out all the ways you can get help towards getting control of your money.

The Money Saving Expert

Martin Lewis, from television's The Money Saving Expert, has some hints and tips for anyone struggling financially on the Money Saving Expert website.

Kent Support and Assistance Service

Kent Support and Assistance Service also provide short term help if you are having serious difficulties managing your income.

Ashford Advice

Ashford Advice also has advice for people struggling with their finances. These include checking with your providers if there's anything they can do to help you. Talk to your gas and electricity supplier, your phone company, bank or building society, or landlord, to see if you can come to different arrangements about paying your bills. It is important to do this before you miss a payment.

Wave Community Bank

A local community bank providing ethical, affordable loans and savings accounts to people living or working in East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent and Medway in a way that benefits the local community. They offer family saver loans which can be repaid using child benefit payments. Find out more: Family Saver Loan