Help today
If you need help right now, start here. Tap a number to call. All of these are free.
Food, heating or essentials today
Your council can give emergency help through its crisis fund. Find your council:
County Durham
Cash, vouchers or goods for low-income households in a crisis, covering food, energy and heating oil, plus help with furniture and white goods.
Apply online through the council's Crisis and Resilience Fund page, or phone 03000 267 900.
Darlington
A one-off award each year, run with Citizens Advice, for low-income residents in financial hardship.
Apply online through the council's Crisis and Resilience Fund page. If you can't get online, Citizens Advice runs drop-ins at Church Row: Tuesdays 1.30pm to 4pm and Thursdays 10.30am to 1pm.
Gateshead
One-off or short-term payments after a crisis such as losing a job, fleeing domestic abuse, damage to your home, a broken essential appliance, or lost or stolen money.
Apply online. If you can't apply online, ring the Benefits team on 0191 433 5466. Council tenants can get help to apply from the Advice and Support team on 0191 433 6161.
Hartlepool
Help with essential household items such as white goods, beds and carpets. The council says other crisis help is coming soon.
Email crf@hartlepool.gov.uk or phone 01429 266522.
Middlesbrough
Crisis payments in an emergency, help with food or utilities, and help with furniture and white goods through the Community Support Scheme.
Ring Freephone 0808 178 9278 to apply for a crisis payment: 9am to 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am to 4pm Wednesday. You can also apply online.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Fast help, mostly in cash, with food, energy and essential furniture or appliances for people in a crisis with no other way to cope.
Apply online, or ring 0191 278 7878, ask for Housing Benefit, then choose option 3. Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm.
North Tyneside
We're confirming how North Tyneside Council handles crisis help now. Until then, contact the council directly, or use the free helplines on our Help today page.
Northumberland
Short-term payments after a sudden money shock, towards food, energy, water, clothing, white goods, bills and other essentials.
Apply online or phone 01670 620 015: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. For help with heating oil, ring Citizens Advice Northumberland on 01670 339749.
Redcar and Cleveland
Short-term help with food, gas, electricity or clothing in a money crisis, plus furniture and white goods for people setting up home again.
Apply online through the Discretionary Social Fund. For urgent needs only, ring the Social Fund team on 01642 771276.
South Tyneside
Vouchers for food and for topping up a prepayment gas or electricity meter in a money crisis, plus help with household goods, furniture and carpets.
Apply online through the Local Assistance Fund, or get help to apply at your local library.
Stockton-on-Tees
Emergency help after a sudden money shock towards energy, food, water, clothing, beds and bedding, cookers, fridges and washing machines.
Apply online. If you can't apply online, ring 01642 524180.
Sunderland
Help on a low income towards essentials such as food, energy, hygiene products, clothing, furniture, appliances, travel and urgent housing costs.
Phone the Home and Money Team on 0191 520 5551. A staff member fills in the application with you. Send any evidence they ask for within two working days.
Worried about debt or bills
These charities give free, confidential advice from qualified advisers.
- Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848 (usually Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- StepChange: 0800 138 1111 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm)
- National Debtline: 0808 808 4000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9.30am to 1pm)