What Can We Do?

Lancaster’s Income and Household Support Team can offer the following services to council tenants:

• Budgeting support along with financial health checks
• Assist with benefit claims
• Assist with universal credit
• Benefit health checks
• Referrals/Signpost for debt advice and referrals to Citizens Advice
• Food bank vouchers
• Applications for grants/funding (i.e. white goods/utilities)

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Lancaster City Council Cost of Living Support

Click here to learn more about how to access Lancaster City Council Cost of Living Support, which includes details of how to access the Household Support Fund

Lancaster City Council has received funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to enable us to support those most in need with the significant rise in the cost of living. This scheme is being run in partnership with North Lancashire Citizens Advice.

The aim of this scheme is to provide longer term support to our residents who are struggling financially.

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Discretionary Housing Payments & Council Tax Support

Click here to learn more about Discretionary Housing Payments & Council Tax Support.

DHP are payments made by the council where it is satisfied that a person needs extra financial help with their housing costs (i.e., their rent).

Anybody receiving housing benefit or housing costs within their universal credit can make a claim, where there is a shortfall between the rent liability and the benefit awarded.

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Benefits Calculator

We want to help you maximise the income available to you and a Benefits Calculator can help you, quickly and easily, to find out an estimate of what you could be claiming.

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Budgeting Tool

Why not also try the Budgeting Tool to help you be better prepared financially?

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Money Advice Service

Click here to access our Money Advice Service, you can find advice to help you run a bank account, plann your finances, and cut costs - along with useful calculators and tools.

The amount of rent you pay depends on the type of home you live in. The rent you are charged will be shown on your annual rent notification letter that we send to you every March.

Your tenancy agreement states your rent is due weekly.  If you prefer to pay weekly, then your rent and charges are due in advance on Monday of each week. If you wish to pay your rent over longer periods – for example, monthly - you will be asked for a monthly rent payment in advance before your tenancy starts and then your rent and charges are due in advance each month.

Make paying your rent your number one priority or risk losing your home.

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Pay your Rent Online

Click Here to visit our payment portal.

Click item details and then complete the required fields. The reference will be your Rent reference number which will have four or five digits and 1 letter, example 12345X, if you do not know this, the reference number can be obtained from your Income Management Officer by calling 01524 582541.

Once you have completed all the required fields click add to basket.

You then need to click on your basket and enter your card details to complete the payment.

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Automated Payment Line

You can pay by debit or credit card using our automated payment line 0845 601 7297 - 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.

Use your rent reference number without the letter at the end, if you do not know this, the reference number can be obtained from your Income Management Officer by calling 01524 582541.

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At Any Post Office Or PAYZONE Outlet

You can pay by cash, debit or credit card using your swipe card

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Direct Debit

Please call the Income Management Team on 01524 582541 to set up a monthly direct debt. Direct Debits are currently available on the 7^th of the month.

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Standing Order Or Direct Bank Payment

Payments can be made weekly/fortnightly or monthly to account:

Sort Code: 01-54-90

Account number: 64848361

Reference: <Your Rent Reference Number>

If you do not know your rent reference, the reference number can be obtained from your Income Management Officer by calling 01524 582541.

What We Do

We are able to advise our council tenants, aiming to give you a better awareness of your personal finances and help you to understand the impact of wage payments or Universal Credit payments.

We can also provide you with a 'better off' calculation to help you see the financial benefits of returning to work and put you in touch with the right organisations to give you the best support possible with things like:

• Improving your CV
• IT support and training courses
• Help with job searches, training and work experience opportunities
• Setting up an appropriate email address
• Getting a bank account
• Identifying your priority debts
• Debt issues
• Poverty issues
• Money Advice service
• Energy efficiency

It is important that you pay your rent on time and in advance if you do not pay monthly.

It is your responsibility to pay rent, and this should be a priority as you will be at risk of losing your home if you stop paying. If you do have difficulties paying contact your Income Officer by calling 01524 582541 or emailing chincomemanagementteam@lancaster.gov.uk

Our Income team can also offer advice on maximising your income by managing your bills and claiming benefits you are entitled to.

Talking about financial problems with a third party can help to address problems and reduce stress and prevent the situation getting worse. If you would prefer this to be with another organisation, we can refer you to further support, or point you in the right direction.

Our Household Support Officers are here for you.

If you're a tenant struggling with rent, welfare concerns, or benefit-related issues, our Household Support Officer is here to help — you can be referred for one-to-one support tailored to your needs.

You're not alone — support is available.

Please contact your Income Officer who can make referral to the team – call 01524 582541.