Money Support Service

The Money Support Service is here for you if you’re a Norfolk County Council service user who needs help with budgeting.

There are many reasons why people struggle with money. It may be a loss of benefits or a job, a relationship breakdown, an increase in living costs or a lack of budgeting skills.

If you have an illness or disability, money worries can lead to a vicious cycle of deteriorating health and difficulty managing household bills.

We can offer help and advice over the phone, or face-to-face support in your own home if needed. 

How we can support you 

We offer budget training, where we’ll help you to work out your income and outgoings to give you a better understanding of your finances.

Creating a budget is the first step towards taking control of your finances and getting your situation back on track.

If you’re struggling to keep track of your money, we can also provide the following help: 

• Money advice
• Support to reduce high bills
• Support with referral to debt management agencies  
• Support with Disability Related Expenses within financial assessments
• Referrals to the Welfare Rights team to help with complex benefit issues where appropriate

We’ve also provided some information on how working can affect benefits.

Help if you’re struggling with debt

If you've got several debts, you might be feeling overwhelmed. We can help you by: 

• Working with you to help you gain a better understanding of your budget
• Giving you support to address minor debt issues
• Assisting with referrals to debt agencies, who offer debt advice aimed at those who are vulnerable or who have complex needs
• Supporting you accessing Breathing Space to receive debt advice or mental health crisis treatment

If you’re referred to a debt agency, they’ll help you by: 

• Sorting out priority debts, non-priorities and debt emergencies 
• Giving information so you can consider your options
• Contacting creditors about repayment agreements
• Providing advice on debt relief orders, bankruptcy or individual voluntary arrangements 

Contact us

Phone: 01603 223392 (option 4)

Email: MSS@norfolk.gov.uk

Useful links

• The Money Advice Service was set up by the Government and offers free and impartial advice. The website has various tools and calculators you can use to keep track of your finances.
• GOV.UK, the Government's website, has information and advice on benefits, money and tax. 
• National Debtline has fact sheets offering debt advice, sample letters you can use and a budget tool.
• MoneySavingExpert has advice on dealing with debt, how to save money on all kinds of utilities and services, plus deals and vouchers.
• National Debt Advice has a team of advisors and information to help you if you’re struggling with repaying debts.
• Stepchange is a debt charity offering free advice and debt solutions to help you.
• Debt Tester is a tool provided by the BBC, which you can use to find out how likely you are to have problems with borrowing.
• Breathing Space Debt Respite Scheme gives debt advice and mental health crisis treatment without pressure from creditors or mounting debts.