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Don't Drown in Debt - Beat the Credit Crunch
Don't Drown in Debt - Beat the Credit Crunch This section of our site contains lots of useful information to help you cope with the current financial problems. Blackpool Council, through its innovative ‘Credit Crunch Taskforce’, is helping residents and local businesses through the current economic difficulties.

The taskforce will work together with the private, public and voluntary sectors to secure the best possible economic future for our town.

As well as ensuring the council is doing all it can, the designated team is looking for new areas that can positively benefit local people and businesses so please let us know what we can do to help by emailing fiona.mcgrath@blackpool.gov.uk

A wide range of help and advice is available for business owners, employees and local residents affected by the credit crunch. We’ve also provided links to other websites where you can get more detailed advice to help you. Don’t drown in debt – beat the credit crunch with our top tips.

Money and Benefits

If you pay rent to a private landlord, housing association or for a council property and are on a low income or state benefit and have savings of less than £16,000, you may be able to get help with your rent and / or council tax.

If you are over 60, contact the Pension Service on 0800 991234 to see if you qualify for Pension Credit. If you do, they will complete your claim for Housing & Council Tax Benefit at the same time.

If you are claiming for Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based) Employment Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit or have recently lost your job, your claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit should be made through Job Centre Plus on 0800 0556688.

If you are not sure whether you can claim or not, our friendly advisors at Customer First will be able to help you. You can ring them on 01253 478847 from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday or 9am to 2pm on Saturdays. For more information about means tested benefits, check out our Welfare Advice Page on our website.

Debt

Debt can be overwhelming, particularly during a recession, but help is at hand for Blackpool residents. Blackpool Council is working with its partners to help people manage their finances.  You can get helpful information on our Debt Advice Pages on this website.

The Citizens Advice Bureau on Whitegate Drive offers free independent, impartial and confidential advice and has a raft of information to help individuals struggling to make ends meet. You can call them on 01253 308400.

Specialist debt advice is also available from some local solicitors (subject to status). Blackpool Council’s Customer First team can provide details.

Mortgages

Any household in financial difficulty, at risk of repossession and threatened with homelessness should seek advice from their lender in the first instance or the Blackpool Citizens Advice Bureau or other independent advice agency.

Certain vulnerable and priority need households may be able to get help to stay in their home through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

To be eligible for the scheme, your household must include: · a pregnant woman · someone with dependent children · someone who is vulnerable because of old age or a physical or mental impairment.

Depending on circumstances, you may be offered a shared equity loan where a Registered Social Landlord (RSL), will pay off a proportion of your mortgage in return for a share of the property’s equity to reduce your payments, or a government mortgage to rent, where the RSL pays off your mortgage completely and allows you to stay in the property as a tenant paying an affordable reduced rent.

For more information about the scheme, contact Blackpool Council’s Housing Options Service on 01253 477760.

Homeowner Mortgage Support
 
The Homeowners Mortgage Support (HMS) scheme was launched on 21st April 2009. The new scheme will give homeowners who are experiencing financial problems due to unexpected drop in income (for example due to redundancy or reduction in working hours) sufficient time to find new employment or recover income, without the added worry and stress of potentially losing their home. Homeowners who experience and unexpected drop in income, subject to meeting qualifying criteria, can have their mortgage payments reduced by deferring up to 70% of interest payments for up to two years. Deferred payments are added to the mortgage to be paid off at a later date. Homeowners who are experiencing difficulty in meeting mortgage payment should contact their lender as soon as possible.

Mortgage Interest Support

From 5th January 2009, more assistance is available for homeowners receiving benefits to help them pay their mortgages. If you are receiving income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, or income-related employment and support allowance, you will now be entitled to help with your mortgage interest payments after 13 weeks. Previously the waiting time was 39 weeks for new claims, or in some cases 26 weeks. If you have waited more than 13 weeks already, and had been told that you needed to wait for 26 or 39 weeks you should now be eligible. Mortgage interest support is paid directly to your mortgage lender by the DWP. Customers who think they may qualify for help with interest payments should contact the DWP on 0800 055 6688. Further information on all the Government homeowner support schemes is available at www.direct.gov.uk
More Help
  • You may qualify for free school meals and clothing vouchers. Call 01253 478847 to enquire (If you have claimed Housing or Council Tax Benefit you don’t need to apply).
  • For information about residential or non residential care, please ring 01253 477592
  • If you want to know about Social Fund Crisis Loans, please call 0800 0328341 from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
  • Are you getting the right amount of Tax Credits? To check, ring 0845 3003900 from 8am to 8pm seven days a week or check out their website at HM Revenue and Customs.
Useful Websites and Telephone Numbers
  • National Debtline – free confidential and independent advice on dealing with debt problems. Telephone 0808 808 4000
  • Citizens Advice Bureau – an online service providing independent advice about your rights. You can ring the local office on 01253 308400
  • Money Saving Expert – tips on saving money provided by an independent source.
  • Money Made Clear – information about financial products and services provided by the Government’s financial watchdog.
  • Consumer Credit Counselling Service – free, confidential support and advice provided by a registered charity for anyone worrying about debt. Telephone 0800 138 1111
  • The Pension Service – provides impartial pension advice
  • Department for Work and Pensions – benefits advice from the government including information on working tax credit.
  • Looking for work? – call 0845 6060234 for help and advice.
  • Financial support for those living with a disability – check out the Direct Gov website or call 08457 123456
  • Payplan – immediate access to a full range of free debt advice and debt solutions all under one roof. You can ring them on 0800 917 7823 from 8am to 9pm.
  • Positive Steps – If you’re unemployed and need help with any aspect of finding a new job or are looking to recruit staff, Blackpool Council’s ‘Positive Steps into Work’ scheme could be just the thing for you. Call us free for more information on 0800 073 2007 and take the first step to a more positive future.
Help for Businesses

Your Cash Flow

Much trading in Blackpool is seasonal. Blackpool Council is therefore promoting an innovative and unique approach to paying your Business Rates to coincide with the time of year when many businesses receive most of their income.

Instead of paying by the statutory instalment scheme from April until the following January, the Council will allow you to pay your Business Rates over the summer months and spread the liability from June until November.
If you wish to pay your Business Rates in this way either write to PO Box 50, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NF or telephone 01253 478859 or 478857.   

We are aware of the difficult times many businesses are experiencing.  If your business is finding it difficult to pay the monthly instalments shown on your bill, then please contact us without delay.  We will offer any assistance possible.  We have, however, a statutory duty to collect business rates from those liable to pay.

Further help and advice for businesses can be found at www.blackpoolunlimited.com

Loans

Blackpool Council has taken the innovative decision to set up a £3million loan fund for businesses to safeguard and create jobs and help Blackpool get through the recession.
The aim of the fund is to provide a life line for local, normally sound businesses that are currently experiencing difficulty getting finance from the banks because of the global slow down. These recession beating loans will be divided into four categories.
  • Retail – loans of £5,000 to assist businesses and premises in a defined Town Centre Area
  • Promenade – loans of £5,000 to help businesses situated between Central and North Pier
  • Investment fund – up to £150,000 loans for businesses that are growing or planning to invest in Blackpool thereby bringing new jobs to the town
  • Credit Crunch – this loan fund applies to good and sound businesses experiencing cash flow problems but not within the other categories
For further information about applying for one of these loans please contact Nuala Lewis on 01253 477331.

Get Started

If you’re considering going it alone, we can help you through the process of setting up in your own business and guide you at every stage until you reach your potential as an entrepreneur.

As well as a tailored and comprehensive business support package with advisors,which includes training, networking, guidance and mentoring, we offer a grant of up to £1500 payable during the first year, available for Blackpool residents or those setting up in Blackpool only.

More than 400 new businesses have been created through Get Started so whether you have a passion for fashion or you’re nuts about bolts, call into the New Blackpool Enterprise Centre on Lytham Road or ring 01253 406721 and turn your dream into reality.

Also check out our website pages for more information.

Business Link Northwest

Business Link provides an extensive range of help for businesses facing the credit crunch or wanting to recession-proof their performance. Help includes:
  • managing cash flow
  • handling redundancies
  • marketing
  • managing people and investing in skills
  • improving business efficiency and performance
  • finding support
Jobs in Blackpool

This joint venture between Blackpool Council and Blackpool and the Fylde College offers free training courses in construction skills for adults looking for work and takes advantage of all the regeneration projects taking place in the town.
Trainees will gain practical work experience, leave with an Open College North West qualification and dedicated Build Up staff will assist in finding employment. To qualify for up to13 weeks free training you need to:
  • be 24 years old or over
  • be registered unemployed or in receipt of incapacity benefit (you can continue claiming whilst on the programme)
  • live in Blackpool in a LEGI designated area
Contractors working with Build Up satisfy the social inclusion clauses of Blackpool Coastal Housing and Blackpool Council’s contracts allowing them to tender for more work.

If you are interested in the scheme, visit the Blackpool Build Up Website or call 01253 291073.

Top Tips

Be prepared

If you start to feel the pinch, act sooner rather than later. Try to safeguard against future reduction in income by saving while you can.

Reduce your outgoings

Simple everyday things like using energy saving light bulbs, turning electrical items off standby and taking a shower instead of a bath can save you money on energy bills. Cycle to work if it’s not too far and save money on petrol. Be energy aware as you go about your daily routine and it could make a big difference.

Don’t bury your head in the sand

Take action at the first sign of trouble. Whether you get an arrears letter from your bank or miss a council tax payment, face it head on and don’t let the matter escalate.

Get help

If you find yourself in a difficult situation, there is help out there. See our list of useful numbers and websites above for places where you can get help and advice.

When the pressure gets too much, in what are tough times, never forget there are people on the end of a phone wiling to listen, and trained to help.

For relationship issues, you can find your nearest Relate and talk through your options with a trained consultant on 0300 100 1234.

To talk to someone, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Spread your Council Tax

We are aware of the difficult times many residents are experiencing. If you are having problems paying the monthly instalments shown on your council tax bill, please contact us on 01253 478847 as early as possible to talk about this. We will do all we can to assist with your problem.

Council Tax Reductions

There are a number of ways the amount of Council Tax you have to pay can be reduced:

Council Tax Benefit – This is available to those on a low income. Couples need only make one claim. Council tax payers who share their property with other adults who are on a low income may also get help through Second Adult Rebate. Your benefit will be checked when required, depending on the circumstances of the claim. We will visit, write or phone you to make sure you are getting the right benefit.

Disabled Relief – This is awarded where special adaptations have been made to your home to accommodate a disabled resident. If you qualify you can get a reduction equivalent to one band on your bill. An initial inspection of your home will need to be made before any relief is awarded and you need to make a new application each year.
Please check our website for more information on available discounts and reliefs for Council Tax.

Care and Repair
Blackpool Council’s Home Improvement Agency provides real help, advice and assistance to support older, disabled people and those with sensory loss to remain safe, warm, secure and independent in well-maintained and adapted homes.

Maintaining our homes can be a burden or a worry as we get older. Care and Repair can help you apply for any available funding, obtain estimates, find an appropriate contractor and make sure the job is completed satisfactorily.

We can help anyone over 60 years of age or disabled who is on a low income and living in their own home. Some of our services are also available to people living in privately rented or Blackpool Coastal Housing property. More information can be found on our webpage or you can email us on care&repair@blackpool.gov.uk or ring us on 01253 651555
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Blackpool Council
Customer First Centre
Municipal Building
Corporation Street
Blackpool
FY1 1NF

Tel: (01253) 477477

Customer First Centre
Monday to Friday 8am-5.30pm
Saturday 9am-2pm

Customer First Telephone Line
8am-6pm Monday to Friday
Saturday 9am-2pm
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