Christmas and winter can both be hard, especially if you are struggling for money. To help with that, we have written this guide which has useful links to services in Leeds that can help you with things like paying the bills and managing your money.
Benefits
There are some services open around Christmas who might be able to offer information and advice on benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Cold Weather Payments. Here is a list of them below.
Please note that opening times may change during Christmas – it is best to check on their websites or by contacting them to see when they are open. Some of the services listed below also offer debt advice.
- Chapeltown Citizens Advice
- Opening times: Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm for advice sessions and telephone advice, except Bank Holidays
- Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/chapeltown/
- Phone: 0808 278 7878
- Email: [email protected]
- Leeds Citizens Advice
- Opening times: By phone and in-person, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, except Bank Holidays
- Website: https://citizensadviceleeds.org.uk/
- Phone: 0808 278 7878
- Email: Enquiry form
- Money Buddies
- Website: https://moneybuddies.org.uk/
- Phone: 0113 235 0276
- Email: [email protected]
- Leeds Money Information Centre (MIC)
- Together Leeds – help with the cost of living (includes a section on their website on benefits)
- Leeds Welfare Rights Unit
- Opening times: Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm, Wednesdays 10:15am to 4:30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm
- Website: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/benefits/welfare-rights
- Phone: 0113 376 0452
- Email: [email protected]
- Better Leeds Communities
- Website: https://betterleeds.org.uk/
- Phone: 0113 275 4142
- Email: [email protected]
- Scope
- Opening times:
- Website: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/
- Phone: 0800 800 3333
- Email: [email protected]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have information about benefits on the GOV.UK website:
- Disability Service Centre – contact details for enquiries about disability-related benefits
- Benefits Calculators
- Personal Independent Payments (PIP)
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults
- Warm Home Discount Scheme – getting £150 of your electricity bill if you are eligible; if so, you will get a letter
- Winter Fuel Payment – for people born before 25th September 1957, who could get between £250 and £600 to help with paying heating bills
Debt advice and information
- Money Buddies
- Website: https://moneybuddies.org.uk/
- Phone: 0113 235 0276
- Email: [email protected]
- Stepchange
- Website: https://www.stepchange.org/
- Phone: 0800 138 1111
- Other contact details: Contact Stepchange
- Better Leeds Communities – debt and finance
- MindWell – guide to dealing with debt
Utility bills – energy and mobile data
- Ofgem – Get help if you cannot afford your energy bills
- MoneySavingExpert – What to do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills
- Age UK – Warm Home Discount information
- Turn2us – Help with energy bills
- Scope – Disability Energy Support
- Virgin Media O2 – National Databank for anyone in data poverty
Warm spaces in Leeds
Leeds City Council and Voluntary Action Leeds have created an interactive map of warm spaces running throughout the Leeds area. They include libraries, community centres and places of worship. To see the map, please click on this link: Warm Spaces Map
Each warm space has an orange pin which, when clicked on, will list opening times and contact details. Please note that most warm spaces will be closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
