How can I health check my finances?
It's never too late to get help with debt problems. However, the earlier you try to sort things out, the more options you have.
A number of companies and organisations offer debt advice. Many will help with free initial advice, but please check with anyone you contact about the service they offer. You don’t have to pay for debt or money advice. There is plenty of free help for you.
Consolidation loans
Loan providers who advertise ‘consolidation loans’ for people in financial difficulty make their money by selling their product and their main interest is making a profit. Sometimes they insist on the loan being secured on your home. They are not independent and although debt consolidation may be right for you, you should always check what else you can do.
Free Help
National Debtline provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice by telephone. You can contact them on 0808 808 4000.
If you need advice about Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) or other bankruptcy issues, please visit the Insolvency Helpline website
For people eligible for legal aid, you can get help from Community Legal Advice. This is a telephone based service which helps those people on low incomes or benefits.
Call 0845 345 4 345.
Local help
Local help which is free and impartial is available through Citizen’s Advice Bureaux (CAB). There are also a number of support agencies in Sheffield who can assist with debt advice.
You can find a list of CABs in Sheffield, other local support agencies and organisations who work nationally in our Debt Problems leaflet which you can download at the bottom of this page.
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Other ways to get help
There are a number of other support agencies who may be able to help you. For example:
Benefit Advice
If you want to check whether you are getting the right amount of benefit, advice is available from the Department of Work and Pensions on its Now Let's Talk Money website
Sheffield Council also has a useful benefits calculator. Use this to check that you are getting all the benefit you are entitled to.