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
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