Coronavirus financial support and advice

If you currently claim financial support to pay your rent and council tax but have had a drop in income due to coronavirus, you may be eligible to make a claim for additional benefits under Universal Credit to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). You may also be eligible to apply to the Council for further financial support.

Limited financial support via Hackney’s financial assistance programme

Citizens Advice Hackney and Family Action have been grant funded by Hackney Council to provide financial assistance for individuals and families with no recourse to public funds that have been affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

Please note that this limited funding is not a public fund and will therefore not impact on immigration claims by individuals and families and that any identifying information will not be shared with Hackney Council.

There is limited funding available and the grants are to support with emergency help with food, reconnection of fuel supply and cost of utilities, help with travel, toiletries, basic or essential communication needs, rent arrears, basic clothing, child or baby essentials, prescriptions or rent deposits.

This support is for people who are not eligible for the existing support offered by the Council.

If you have any questions about the process and to self-refer via Citizens Advice Bureau, you can email nrpf.hackney@eastendcab.org.uk.

How do I make a Universal Credit claim?

The DWP has dedicated coronavirus information and guidance about how to claim benefits and what benefits you might be entitled to. This advice is being updated regularly in line with arrangements being put in place to support those who are affected by coronavirus.

Please be aware that there has been a huge increase in the number of people applying for Universal Credit, so you may experience extended waiting times while applying.

We have lots of helpful advice about how to make a claim, including a benefits calculator, in our benefit claim section.

How do I claim additional benefits if I already claim Universal Credit?

If you already claim Universal Credit, you need to use your Universal Credit account to report your change in circumstances.

Do I need to report a change of circumstances to the Council?

Yes. If you receive housing benefit or council tax reduction and there is a change in any of your personal circumstances, please let us know as soon as possible. Visit our change in circumstances section to find out more.

Is any other type of help available from the Council?

Yes. As part of our support package for local residents during the coronavirus pandemic, if you already receive council tax reduction you will receive up to £150 off your council tax bill this year. All working-age residents who are already eligible for extra support through our council tax reduction scheme will automatically receive this discount.

If you already receive council tax reduction you do not need to take any action, the extra help will be added automatically, you do not need to apply for it. You will be sent a confirmation letter and adjusted council tax bill shortly.

If you are affected financially by coronavirus and you are already claiming council tax reduction, or you have claimed but not yet received your assessment, you will not be pursued for non-payment of council tax.

There are also 3 additional schemes that offer financial support that you may be able to apply for:

• the discretionary crisis support scheme helps with urgent financial needs for things like living expenses and bills
• the discretionary housing payments scheme helps you pay your rent if it is not met in full by housing benefit
• the council tax reduction discretionary hardship scheme helps you if you already have a council tax reduction but are still struggling to pay your council tax bill

There are also a range of organisations in Hackney providing help and support to people affected financially by coronavirus. Visit our support services map to find out more.

Benefits contact line

You can contact our information line on 020 8356 3399 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. A member of our team can talk to you about your situation and provide tailored help and guidance.

If you have lost income due to coronavirus and are not currently claiming any financial support to pay your rent or council tax bill, you can make a claim for benefits under Universal Credit to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The Council may also be able to help support you at this difficult time.

How do I make a Universal Credit claim?

To find out what benefits you are entitled to and how to make a claim, visit the Universal Credit website.

Please be aware that there has been a huge increase in the number of people applying for Universal Credit, so you may experience extended waiting times while applying.

For lots of helpful advice, including a benefits calculator, visit our benefit claim section.

How can the Council help?

As well as applying to the DWP for Universal Credit, you can apply directly to Hackney Council for a reduction in the amount of council tax you pay. Visit our council tax reduction section to find out how to apply.

You may be eligible to apply for our discretionary crisis support scheme, which can help you with urgent financial needs for things like living expenses and bills. Visit our discretionary crisis support scheme section to find out more.

There are also a range of organisations in Hackney providing help and support to people affected financially by coronavirus. Visit our support services map to find out more.

Benefits contact line

You can contact our information line on 020 8356 3399 Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. A member of our team can talk to you about your situation and provide tailored help and guidance.

If you are unable to claim any public funds, often referred to as ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF), the support available depends on your circumstances.

If you have children under 18 years old

If you are a parent with children under 18 years old in your care and you can’t afford food or you are at risk of homelessness, you may be eligible for support from our children and families team.

Email fast@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 5500 to explain your situation and find out what help may be available.

Please note that in order to progress a NRPF assessment we must conduct the Home Office and make other checks, but we will always explain this process to you before any checks are undertaken.

If you are an adult with care needs

If you are at risk of homelessness or can’t afford to feed yourself, you may be eligible for support from Adult Services.

If you or someone you know would like to speak to someone in Adult Services please contact the Information and Assessment Team on 020 8356 6262 or email access@Hackney.gov.uk.

If you are homeless and at risk of rough sleeping

If you are rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping due to homelessness, please contact Streetlink on 0300 500 0914. They are able to connect you with a rapid response outreach team who can help you.

Their phone lines tend to be busy so you may prefer to download their mobile app or visit the Streetlink website.

You can find out more about how we work with Streetlink by visiting our homelessness section.

If you have an open asylum application

If you can’t afford food or are facing homelessness while waiting for a decision on your asylum application, contact the charity Migrant Help.

They may be able to provide both financial support and accommodation. They also work with translators if English is not your first language.

You can call their free asylum helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0808 8010 503.

If you’re looking for community support services

There are lots of organisations in Hackney providing help and support to people affected by coronavirus.

Visit our support services map to find out more.

There is a legal requirement on all UK residents to self isolate if they:

• test positive for covid-19, or
• are not double vaccinated and are identified through NHS Test and Trace as having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19

You must self isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the day after you first tested positive or had symptoms, or were last in contact with the person who tested positive for Covid-19.

As a requirement to self isolate can impact on your ability to earn a living, a financial support scheme has been introduced by the government to support people on a low income.

If you are employed or self-employed on a low income, and can’t work from home during the self isolation period, you may be entitled to financial support of £500.

Financial support of £500 can also be provided if your children need to isolate themselves due to testing positive for Covid-19, you are employed or self -employed on a low income, and can’t work from home while providing childcare.

From 16 August 2021 the rules have changed meaning some people now no longer have to self isolate.

Individuals who are double vaccinated against Covid-19 who have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive now no longer need to self isolate.

Children under 18 who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, no longer need to self isolate, unless they have a Education, Health and Care Plan (ECHP) and are not double vaccinated.

As isolation is no longer required in the two scenarios above, financial help is no longer available in these cases where the isolation period commenced on or after 16th of August 2021 .