Financial Welfare Team
Our Financial Welfare Team provides help and advice to improve your financial health.
We can help in any of the following ways:
- Benefit health checks: ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to. With a review of your current benefits and support to identify any additional ones you may qualify for.
- Council tax arrears assistance: help to organise a manageable payment plan.
- Council tax support: help with applying for council tax support which may reduce your council tax bill.
- Housing benefit applications: guidance through the application process.
- Free school meals: help applying for free school meals for your children.
- Blue badge application process.
- Discretionary housing payment to cover shortfalls in paying your rent.
We encourage you to take up all welfare benefits to maximise income and reduce unnecessary stress. We provide advice and signpost you to other organisations, if necessary, for other Department for Work and Pensions benefit entitlements.
The take-up of benefits helps to improve the local economy and eases the pressure on services dealing with long term poverty. We aim to provide specific focus and expertise for residents who need that support.
Support surgeries
Our team are available in person to provide targeted support via surgeries and events in local venues where Council Tax debt is high and benefit take-up is low.
There is no need to book an appointment, just come come along to any of the events.
Drop in session venues, dates and times
| Venue | Date | Time |
| Congleton library |
Monday 26 January
Monday 23 February
Monday 30 March
|
10am to 4pm
|
| Crewe library |
Friday 30 January
Friday 27 February
Friday 27 March
|
10am to 4pm |
| Macclesfield library |
Wednesday 28 January
Wednesday 25 February
Wednesday 25 March
|
10am to 4pm |
| Nantwich library |
Tuesday 27 January
Tuesday 24 February
Tuesday 31 March
|
10am to 4pm |
| Poynton library |
Thursday 29 January
Thursday 26 February
Thursday 26 March
|
10am to 4pm |
Request financial welfare support
Use our online form to request financial welfare support:
Request financial welfare support
Do not use this form to request assistance from the Household Support Fund. Referrals to this fund must be made on your behalf by a trusted professional. Further information can be found at Household Support Fund.
Page last reviewed: 01 December 2025
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