Help and advice agencies

Visit the GOV.UK cost of living support webpage to find information and support for the cost of living including income support, help with your bills, help with childcare costs and more. 

Debt and financial advice

Christians Against Poverty

Christians Against Poverty provide free and confidential support, covering help with debt, budgeting and money advice. They work through local church-based centres across the UK, offering practical guidance and community-based support. 

Visit the Christians Against Poverty website for further information.

Sense

Sense offers guidance on the benefits and financial support you may be entitled to as a disabled adult, including:

• Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit
• Disabled student's allowance (DSA)
• Access to Work
• Attendance Allowance
• paying for your care

Visit the Sense benefits and financial help if you're a disabled adult webpage for further information.

Tees Credit Union

Tees Credit Union provides convenient and easy access to basic financial services, like savings accounts and loans to people who live or work in the borough.

Visit the Tees Credit Union website for further information.

Welfare Rights Service

Our Welfare Rights Service provides free, confidential, independent and impartial advice and information on welfare benefits to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council residents.

We recognise that individuals must make their own decisions and we aim to provide individuals with the information to be able to exercise their rights.

Acting on your behalf

If you need support with benefit issues we may be able to act on your behalf if you are referred to us by any of the following:

• a Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council service, for example:
  • Adult or Children's Services
  • Blue Badge Customer Services
  • Housing Options
  • Revenues and Benefits Service
• your MP
• your Ward Councillor

If you are receiving a service from any of the agencies listed above, ask your key worker to make a referral to us.

Contact us if you are a member of the armed forces community, including dependent families (regular personnel, reservists, veterans, bereaved).

Contact Welfare Rights

Telephone: 01642 526141 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm or Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm)

Employment

Acas

Acas are the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Acas offer free, impartial advice on employment rights, workplace disputes, and best practices for employers and employees. They also help to resolve workplace disputes between employers and employees through conciliation and arbitration. 

Visit the Acas website for further information. 

Pay and work rights helpline and complaints

Visit the GOV.UK pay and work rights helpline and complaints webpage to find advice and online resources on raising complaints about employment issues. 

Energy advice

Energy Saving Trust

Energy Saving Trust offers practical tips and advice on saving energy at home and lowering bills. They provide guidance and support through their advice centres and website covering:

• home energy efficiency
• sustainable living
• low carbon transport
• renewable energy
• innovation and community energy

Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for further information.

Ofgem

Ofgem, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, is the energy regulator for Great Britain. They provide information on energy suppliers and act in the interests of energy consumers.

Visit the Ofgem website for further information.

The HEAT Service delivered by The Wise Group

The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) service, delivered by The Wise Group, is a free support service dedicated to helping low-income households reduce energy costs and tackle fuel poverty. The HEAT service can help with:

• managing and reducing fuel debt
• tackling energy emergencies
• accessing grants, vouchers, and hardship funds
• understanding tariffs and billing
• improving home energy efficiency

Visit the HEAT service website for further information. If you work with individuals or families who could benefit from the HEAT service, you can complete their referral form.

Family

ARCH Teesside

ARCH Teesside is a specialist sexual violence service offering free and confidential support, help and advocacy to people in Teesside who have experienced rape and sexual abuse.

Visit the ARCH Teesside website for further information.

Childline

Childline are a free, confidential helpline and online service for people under 19 in the UK. They can provide support and counselling across a wide range of issues, as well as self-help resources. 

Visit the Childline website for further information.

Family Rights Group

Family Rights Group offer advice and advocacy to families whose children are involved with social services, helping them to understand their rights and options. 

Visit the Family Right's Group website for further information.

Health and Social Care 

Action for ME

Action for ME help people of all ages who are affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Their services include support, healthcare and advocacy. 

Visit the Action for ME website for further information.

Age UK Teesside

Age UK Teesside can help you complete claim forms, including:

• Attendance Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Council Tax Support
• Disability Living Allowance

Visit the Age UK website for further information.

Alzheimer's Society

The Alzheimer's Society gives guidance and support for those affected by dementia. They provide information about dementia, types of dementia, stages and symptoms, and causes and prevention. The Alzheimer's Society also offer dementia support services and legal and financial advice for those living with dementia and their carers.

Visit the Alzheimer's Society website for further information. 

Autism Matters

Autism Matters offers autism awareness courses, talks and training as well as individual consultations for those wanting to discuss autism related issues privately. They also provide information and online resources. 

Visit the Autism Matters website for further information.

Change Grow Live 

Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity, providing free and confidential treatment, support and information to people dealing with drug and alcohol use, smoking, homelessness, justice and probation, and employment. 

Visit the Change Grow Live website for further information.

Daisy Chain

Daisy Chain offers support to autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families through holistic person-centred services. 

Visit the Daisy Chain website for further information.

Disability Law Service

The Disability Law Service provide free legal advice to disabled people and their carers. They provide advice on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits. 

Visit the Disability Law Service website for further information.

Healthwatch

Healthwatch use feedback from health service users to understand the challenges facing the NHS and other care providers, to improve the standards of health and care services. They also offer information and advice on health and wellbeing.

Visit the Healthwatch website for further information.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support are a charity who provide emotional, practical, physical and financial support for people living with, or affected by, cancer. 

Visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website for further information.

Mencap

Mencap is a charity that supports people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. They also advocate, campaign for and help people with a learning disability know their rights with education, work, travel, housing, support and healthcare. 

Visit the Mencap website for further information.

Mind

Mind is a charity that provides advice and support to individuals experiencing mental health problems for people living in England and Wales. They provide a range of mental health services including:

• crisis helplines and resources
• counselling
• legal advice
• local community support groups
• online peer support community

Visit the Mind website for further information.

Parkinson's UK

Parkinson's UK are a charity offering information and support services to those affected by Parkinson's disease. They have local teams based across the UK who deliver support, activities and opportunities for people with Parkinson's and their loved ones. 

Visit the Parkinson's UK website for further information.

Royal British Legion

Royal British Legion provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel of the UK Armed Forces and their families. They give expert advice and guidance to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, offer help with recovery and rehabilitation and provide assistance with transitioning to civilian life. 

Visit the Royal British Legion website for further information.

SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity help both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service. They provide support for issues including:

• addiction
• relationship breakdown
• financial difficulties
• homelessness
• mental health
• disability

Visit the SSAFA website for further information.

Scope

Scope is a disability charity in the UK who support disabled people and their families with practical information and support. They offer a range of support and advice for disabled people including:

• education and employment support services
• energy and water advice
• a telephone helpline
• online community 

Visit the Scope website for further information.

Housing

Crisis

Crisis is a charity that helps people experiencing homelessness. They offer practical support to help people access benefits, healthcare services and employment and assist people in finding safe and affordable housing. 

Visit the Crisis website for further information.

North Star tenants

North Star has Welfare Benefits Officers who can help you look at ways to maximise your income and assist you with any benefit queries.

Visit the North Star website for further information.

Shelter

Shelter provides information, support and free legal advice to those facing housing issues and homelessness. 

Visit the Shelter website for further information.

Thirteen tenants 

Thirteen can help you to claim the benefits you are entitled to, deal with debt and manage your money. They can help you to:

• claim the benefits you are entitled to
• deal with benefit problems
• deal with debt problems
• manage your money and budget for the things you need

Visit the Thirteen website for further information.

Tax Help for Older People

Tax Help for Older People provide independent free tax advice for older people on low incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional advice.

Visit the Tax Help for Older People website for further information.

Online resources

Advicenow

Advicenow supports individuals by providing free, practical legal guidance through information, self-help tools, and training, aiming to help people use the law effectively. Their legal resources cover a wide range of issues, including:

• benefits
• civil rights
• employment
• family and children
• going to court or tribunal
• health and social care
• housing and homelessness
• immigration and nationality

Visit the Advicenow website for further information.

Benefit calculator

The GOV.UK Benefit calculator will help you work out your benefits. You can also use the calculator to work out how much you would be entitled to if your circumstances changed.

Household Benefit cap

The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.

Visit the GOV.UK Benefit cap webpage for information on how it may affect your benefit claim.