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
VenueDateTime
Ash Grove Family Hub

Thursday 18 September

Thursday 16 October

Thursday 13 November

10am to 4pm

Congleton library

Monday 29 September

Monday 27
October

Monday 24 November

10am to 4pm

Congleton family Hub, Congleton

Tuesday 23 September

Tuesday 21 October

Tuesday 18 November

10am to 4pm

Crewe job fair at Market Hall, Crewe Wednesday 17 September 10am to 2pm
Crewe library

Thursday 26 September

Friday 31
October

Friday 28
November

10am to 4pm
Crewe welfare engagement event at Market Hall, Crewe Wednesday 1 October 11am to 2pm
Hope Central - Handforth Thursday 11 September 10am to 12:30pm
Hope Central Knutsford St Cross Church Monday 15 September 10am to 12:30pm
Macclesfield library

Tuesday 24 September

Wednesday 29 October

Wednesday 26 November

10am to 4pm
Monks Coppenhall family hub, Crewe

Tuesday 9 September

Tuesday 14
October

Tuesday 11 November

10am to 4pm
Nantwich library

Tuesday 30 September

Tuesday 28
October

Tuesday 25 November

10am to 4pm
Oak Tree family hub, Crewe Friday 12 September

Friday 10
October

Friday 14
November
10am to 4pm
Oakenclough Family Hub, Wilmslow

Wednesday 24 September

Wednesday 22 October

Wednesday 19 November

10am to 4pm
Sandbach Food Pantry Thursday 25 September 9:30am to 1pm
Silk Life, Macclesfield Wednesday 10 September 10am to 12pm
Wilmslow library

Thursday 25 September

Thursday 30 October

Thursday 27 November

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: 26 August 2025