• For help and advice on a range of issues, visit Citizensadvice.org.uk or telephone the Citizens Advice national phone service on 03444 111 444.

• Money advice for Southampton residents

• Money advice for Portsmouth residents.

If you can't afford to buy enough food, you may be able to get some short-term help from your local food bank.
You will need a voucher to use a food bank. To find out where you can get a voucher, contact your local food bank or phone the Citizens Advice national phone service on 03444 111 444.

Local food banks:

• Alton Food Bank
• Andover Food Bank
• Basingstoke Food Bank
• Eastleigh Basics Bank
• Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank
• Farnborough Food Bank
• Hart Food Bank
• Meon Valley Food Bank
• New Forest Basics Bank
• Portsmouth food banks
• Romsey food bank
• Southampton food banks
• Waterside Food Bank
• Winchester Basics Bank

The Smart Living website has tips and ideas for making the most of the food you have and avoiding waste.

Get Help with tax from GOV.UK
Tax Help for Older People is a service from the charity Tax Volunteers providing free, independent and expert help and advice for older people on lower incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional tax advice.

The organisations below offer free, impartial advice on debt and budgeting:

• Citizens Advice - debt and money advice - budgeting, debt and general financial advice
• Money Advice Service - advice and tools to help improve your finances
• Income Max - help to maximise income and improve finances
• Step Change - advice on problem debt
• Pay Plan - advice, guidance and support for anyone struggling with debt
• National Debtline - confidential debt advice
• Business Debtline - debt help for the self-employed and small businesses
• Christians Against Poverty - debt counselling for anyone, regardless of faith.

The Department for Work and Pensions provides grants and short-term advances for people who already claim benefits, such as:

• maternity grants
• short-term benefit advances
• budgeting loans
• budgeting advances

You can check you are receiving the right benefits:

• use an online benefits calculator 
• contact Jobcentre Plus.

• If you are struggling to keep your home warm,  and live in the Hampshire County Council area, visit the Hitting the Cold Spots web page or call the advice line on 0800 804 8601. The friendly Hampshire-based team will be able to provide a range of advice and assistance including one-off emergency fuel vouchers for pre-payment meters for people who meet certain eligibility criteria.
• Information for Portsmouth residents.
• Information for Southampton residents.
  
  See further information in the 'Keeping warm in winter' section on our Looking after yourself page.

Eligibility for free school meals depends on the circumstances of the parents or carers.

Find out more from:

Hampshire County Council
Portsmouth City Council
Southampton City Council

• Your local district or borough council will be able to give you general advice about housing, housing benefits and homelessness. 
• Southampton City Council housing advice. 
• Portsmouth City Council housing advice. 

If you are having problems paying your rent, talk to your landlord as soon as possible. 

• Citizens Advice guidance on housing   
• Housing advice from Shelter.

Keeping your home warm

If you claim benefits, you may be able to claim discounts or grants to help heat your home.
More about keeping warm in winter.

Use the internet to search for reuse organisations that may sell secondhand furniture and appliances.
Here are some websites or organisations you could try:

Gumtree - for secondhand furniture and appliances for sale.
Emmaus Hampshire is a social enterprise which helps people out of homelessness.
The Community Furniture Project in Basingstoke sells a wide range of used furniture.
The Furniture Helpline in Alton provides affordable household goods, household furniture and white-goods at very low prices to those with a need.
Jacob's Well Care Centre aims to provide furniture to those in need in the Gosport area.

Charity shops, such as the British Heart Foundation,are also a good place to start if you want to buy secondhand goods for the home at affordable prices.
Some household waste recycling centres have sections where you can buy secondhand furniture.

Some charities provide financial help such as subsidised care in a care home, or help with care fees as well as crisis grants. Often these charities are concerned with particular groups such as nurses or ex-service people.
Further information:

• Citizens Advice guidance on benefits
• Independent Age
• Turn2us
• Assistance for Ex-Service personnel