Debt, money worries and mental health

The current cost of living crisis, increases in energy and food prices, and mortgage interest rates are contributing to financial hardship for many households.

Having financial worries and pressures or being in debt can have a big impact on your mental health; and poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle.

If you're struggling financially, help is available at both a national and local level. There is support for those on low income and for those experiencing a change in financial circumstances.

Support in Surrey

• Information and advice about financial and welfare support in Surrey is listed on the County Council's health and welfare support pages
• To talk to someone you can ring the County Council Community Helpline 0300 200 1008 or complete the community helpline enquiry form
• Support with Housing Benefit or Council Tax support from your local District and Borough Council
• Pupils are eligible for free school meals if their parents receive one or more of a range of benefits. See eligibility for free school meals and pupil premium funding
• The discretionary Surrey Crisis Fund provides financial help to residents who have nowhere else to turn in an emergency or after a disaster
• Many Surrey NHS Talking Therapy services can offer an online support programme called Space from Money Worries.

Can I talk to someone about money worries?

• Surrey Community Helpline Tel: 0300 200 1008 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).
  • SMS 0786 0053 465 for deaf and hearing impaired residents only (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
• Citizens Advice has information to help with cost of living and a phoneline for enquiries about benefits and financial support. Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848.
  • Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 144 8884
• Step Change Debt advice - Tel: 0800 138 1111.
  • Provides free, confidential and expert debt advice online or over the phone. They will recommend the best debt solutions for your individual circumstances.
• National debt line - Tel: 0808 808 4000.
  • Free and confidential debt advice via a phone line, webchat and digital advice tool (run by the Money Advice Trust charity)

National support

• Help with winter energy bills for older people - winter fuel and cold weather payments
• MoneyHelper (from the government money service) has a helpline, webchat and online helpful advice and information on managing your money in uncertain times
• The Government provides a range of benefits depending on your needs, including: Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit Employment Support Allowance and Child Benefit. Find out if you are eligible and how to claim using the benefits calculators
• Citizens Advice has an online budgeting tool to help to organise your finances and work out your budget. They can help you access support, benefits and signpost to the most appropriate services for you.
• Breathing Space gives you temporary protection from most types of debt collection, while you work with a debt adviser to take action to get on top of your finances.

Money and mental health

• The Mental Health and Money Advice website provides clear, practical advice and support for people experiencing issues with money and mental health, including what welfare benefits you can access (it is run by national mental health charities).
• The Mind website has more detail on 'money and mental health', including more information about the relationship between money worries and mental health and suggestions how to address them.
• A free downloadable Mental Health and Debt Guide is available (from the Money Saving Expert).
• If you or a loved one is in debt and receiving mental health crisis treatment you can receive a temporary relief to give you time to get back on top of your debt with the government's mental health crisis Breathing Space scheme.