Benefits, grants and debt
Get benefits advice
Find out more about benefits and how you can claim them. Anyone can claim benefits - including homeowners and private tenants.
Speak to our Welfare Rights team
Benefits and tax credits are payments from the government to certain people on low pay, or to meet specific needs.
Contact our Welfare Rights team about what benefits you can get.
Universal Credit
If you are not already claiming any benefits, you might be able to get Universal Credit, a monthly payment to help with your living costs if you are on a low income or out of work.
See if you can claim Universal Credit.
Pension Credit
Many people across the country of pension age are not aware they could be eligible for Pension Credit, a top-up to pension income, that could provide them with a vital financial boost worth over £3,300 a year.
You could be eligible for Guaranteed Pension Credit if:
- You are state pension age.
- Your weekly income is less than £182.60 if you are single, or £278.70 for couples. If your income is more than this you could still get some Pension Credit if you have a severe disability, are a carer or you have certain housing costs.
- There is no savings limit for Pension Credit but if you have capital over £10,000, the amount you get will be reduced.
- If you were 66 on or before 6 April 2016 and have savings or a private pension you may be able to claim Savings Credit.
Have any questions?
Call the Council, 020 8921 6375, on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, from 10am to 1pm. Or, visit on of our Advice Hubs for in person support: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/advicehubs
You will need your National Insurance number, information about your income, savings and investments and your bank account details.
Housing benefit
You may be able to get financial help with rent through the benefits system. Anyone can claim benefits - including homeowners and private tenants.
Discretionary housing payments
If your rent is not met in full by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit and you are finding it difficult to pay, you can apply for extra help in the form of a discretionary housing payment.
Apply for a discretionary housing payment.
Visit our in-person advice hubs
Get free, face-to-face money, debt and benefits support at advice hubs across the borough.
Find your nearest venue and speak to our advisors.
Help for immigrants
You can still get benefit support if you are a refugee, asylum seeker or immigrant. This in-between state is known as No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
Find out more about the benefits you can get.
Find support if you are a recent immigrant from Ukraine.
No recourse to public funds
If you have no recourse to public funds, the NRPF Network can help you find out what your rights are as an immigrant.
Or contact our team on Nilrecourse@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
Get free debt and money advice
Debt Free Advice
You can get 24x7 confidential support and advice from Debt Free Advice. They offer services around debt, saving and budgeting including advice on rent arrears, utility bills, credit cards or loan debt.
Charitable grants and advice
Turn2Us
You might be able to get a charitable grant through Turn2us, a charity which helps people living in poverty in the UK. The grants are for specific things like buying a new fridge if you can’t afford to replace it.
This is open to all residents, even those going through immigration.
See what support you can get from Turn2Us.
General money advice
Greenwich Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Greenwich Citizens Advice Bureau can help you with free advice on a wide range of problems, including debt, housing, benefits, employment, family issues, discrimination, consumer complaints and many more.