Money and benefits
If you’re struggling to make ends meet, don’t struggle alone. In partnership with Torus Group colleagues and key national organisations, we provide support that’s designed to help you make your money go further and help you to access benefits to which you’re entitled.
Money management and budgeting
Using online budgeting tools (such as this one from BudgetNew) can help you to better understand how you’re spending your money and give you tips on how to make it go further.
The Open University has joined forces with MoneySavingExpert to produce a new free course created to give you the knowledge and skills you need to better control your money.
Some additional links you might find helpful:
For free guidance you can trust - Money Helper
Hints and tips to save money as every penny counts - Skint Dad
For lots of advice on saving money, making money and more - Money Magpie
Free financial support for Torus customers
As a Torus customer, you can access free advice and support to help make sure you’re making the most of your money. Not only is help available from Torus Foundation to help with energy and fuel advice, but Torus customers can now access free advice for welfare benefits, budgeting and debt advice from Citizens Advice.
As a Torus customer you can speak directly to Citizens Advice:
- Citizens Advice Liverpool – 0808 279 7840 (this team is taking calls for Torus customers from ALL AREAS)
You can also find advice from - Citizens Advice Liverpool, Citizens Advice St Helens and Citizens Advice Warrington
If you would like help making your referral to Citizens Advice, you can also speak to a member from Torus Foundation who can also share what other support and opportunities are available for Torus communities - 0300 123 5809 (option 2) / info@torusfoundation.org.uk
Energy advice
Our team includes two qualified energy advisors who are on hand to support with:
- Fuel debt
- Billing errors
- Meter readings if you have difficulty doing this yourself
- Applying for grants to help reduce your energy debts
- Switching energy providers (if it’s the right thing to do)
- Applying for seasonal payments (eg Warm Home Discount Payment)
- Paying your water bills
- Budgeting advice
Don’t delay, contact our energy advisors today. Our services are tailored to your needs, so you can give us a call on 0300 123 5809, email us at info@torusfoundation.org.uk or we can arrange to come and see you at your home.
Funded by the Energy Saving Trust.
Benefits advice and calculators
Finding your way round the welfare benefits system can be difficult. Here are some important website links that could help you find out the information you need to know:
- Government website GOV.uk lists all welfare benefits, explains who can claim and how to appeal if you’re turned down.
- Head to the Government’s information on benefit calculator.
You may also find either of these benefit calculators useful:
Our benefits experts may also be able to help you to claim benefits to which you’re entitled and appeal any benefit decisions that go against you. Please get in touch by calling 0300 123 5809 or emailing info@torusfoundation.org.uk.
Grants
If you’re in crisis, your local authority may be able to help you:
Other organisations can award grants if you meet their criteria, including Turn 2 Us, which may be able to help you search for grants you’re eligible for.
Debt advice
It’s never too late to get advice when you’re in debt – but you should never pay for debt advice. In addition to speaking to us, other organisations provide information, including:
United Utilities debt advice
Many of our Torus communities are also customers of United Utilities for the water supply.
United Utilities are encouraging customers who may be struggling to pay their water bill, to reach out.
Support paying your water bill
Financial support from Lightning Reach
If you're looking for support to help pay for an expensive or unexpected cost (e.g. food/utility bills, disability adaptations, replacement furniture/white goods) you may be able to make use of the free online portal from Lightning Reach.
Following a simple 10-15 min questionnaire, you'll be connected to financial support from various sources, quickly and securely. This may include grants from charities, funding from your local council or support with your utility bills. You can apply for multiple sources of support without repeating information.
Head to the Lightning Reach portal and see what support you may be eligible for.
Click on the video from Lightning Reach that also shows how easy it is to use the grant finder.
