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 Children's Hub

Thursday 19 March

10am to 4pm

Congleton library

Monday 30 March

Monday 27 April

Monday 1 June

Monday 29 June

10am to 4pm

Crewe library

Friday 27 March

Friday 24 April

Friday 29 May

Friday 26 June

10am to 4pm

Macclesfield library

Wednesday 25 March

Wednesday 29 April

Wednesday 27 May

Wednesday 24 June

10am to 4pm

Oak Tree Family Hub

Friday 20 March

10am to 4pm
Nantwich library

Tuesday 31 March

Tuesday 28 April

Tuesday 19 May

Tuesday 30 June

10am to 4pm
Poynton library

Thursday 26 March

Thursday 30 April

Thursday 28 May

Thursday 25 June

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.s

Page last reviewed: 04 March 2026