We at Khulisa know that parents are working hard to support their families at the moment. They are facing huge challenges in how they live their lives due to the coronavirus. We have put together the following guides to support parents in managing their own wellbeing.
- Emotional Wellbeing Support
- Physical Wellbeing Support
- Financial Support – This guide
As a reminder, government assistance is available through the gov.uk/coronavirus website.
3. Financial Support
So many of us are finding it hard right now to make ends meet, with friends and family being furloughed, the uncertainty about the future and the potential for recession and ongoing financial instability. If you need help, here are some online access points for you to help you to get as much support as possible during this period:
Step Change
Step Change provide the UK’s most comprehensive debt advice service. They shave published a number of online guides including one called 11 steps to handling a reduced income. The basic steps it covers includes:
- Check you're being paid correctly
- Know your options when it comes to your debts
- Contact your creditors
- Get emergency help if you need it
- Gather your debts
- List your income
- List your spending and outgoings
- Create a budget
- Get debt help
- Work out how you could save money
- Take control of your financial future
Step Change have also published guides specifically giving advice on debt and coronavirus. These guides will be useful to you if the following applies to your current situation:
- If you're worried how coronavirus could affect your finances
- If coronavirus is already affecting your finances
- I’ve been furloughed, what does this mean?
- If you have an upcoming court hearing
- If you're expecting a bailiff or sheriff officer visit
- If you're worried how school closures will affect your finances
- How to look after yourself during the coronavirus outbreak
- If you're on a DMP, and want to take a mortgage holiday
Turn2Us
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. They have set up a CoVid19 Crisis Fund.
The Covid-19 Crisis Fund has been set up to support people who have lost their income due to Coronavirus and to meet immediate basic household expenses. In short, they are offering a one-off crisis grant of £500 per household towards essential living expenses (food, bills etc)for people who can say YES to all of the following:
- I can demonstrate a loss of income due to Covid-19 (evidence required showing at least 50% reduction in earnings (bank statements*, letter from employer outlining change in employment)
- I am a resident of UK / Republic of Ireland
- I am not in Further or Higher Education
- I am over 18
- I have less than £1K savings (single person) or less than £2K savings (couple/family)
- I have not had a Turn2Us Grant in the last 6 months (since September 2019)
(*NB: self-employed people provide a statement from their business account showing full earnings before Covid-19 crisis and a statement showing reduced amount of earnings now.
In order to access the fund you need to follow these two steps: