Refused a loan and struggling with bills? Where to get help
If a refusal has left you struggling to keep up with bills, the most important thing is that there is a lot of help available beyond borrowing, and using it is far safer than taking on more debt. Bill reductions, supplier support schemes, free debt advice and unclaimed entitlements can together ease the pressure considerably.
See everything you may qualify for — benefits, grants, reductions and reliefs — in about 3 minutes. Free to check.
Check what you're owed →When bills are the problem, more borrowing is rarely the answer, because it adds another commitment on top of the ones already stretching you. The better path is to reduce what you owe and increase the support you receive, which tackles the squeeze from both directions.
There is genuine help across the board. Energy and water suppliers run support schemes for customers in difficulty, councils offer council tax reductions and welfare assistance, and free debt advice can help you prioritise and manage what you owe. Talking to suppliers early, before you fall badly behind, usually opens up more options.
Underpinning all of this, many people are missing entitlements that would directly ease the pressure. A thorough check of the benefits, reductions and grants you qualify for is often the single most effective step, because it can boost your income and cut your bills without you having to borrow anything at all.
Ease pressure on your bills
- Talk to suppliers. Contact energy and water providers early about support schemes for customers in difficulty.
- Check council help. Ask about council tax reductions and local welfare assistance.
- Get free debt advice. Speak to a debt-advice charity to prioritise and manage what you owe.
- Claim your entitlements. Run a full check of the benefits, reductions and grants you may qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
- What help is there if I am struggling with bills?
- Suppliers run support schemes, councils offer council tax reductions and welfare assistance, free debt advice is available, and you may be missing entitlements that ease the pressure.
- Should I borrow to cover my bills?
- Usually not. More borrowing adds another commitment. Reducing bills and increasing the support you receive tackles the problem more safely.
- What is the most effective first step?
- A thorough check of the benefits, reductions and grants you qualify for, as it can boost income and cut bills without any borrowing.
MoneyFinder is an independent sign-posting service that helps you find financial support you may be entitled to. We are not a government body and do not provide financial advice. Figures are taken from the official sources cited above and were correct when last checked — always confirm current details on the linked GOV.UK pages.