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You can't afford food this week

There is emergency help available today, and you should use it. Here is exactly what to do, what they can and cannot do, and where to get free help today.

Written by The My Debt Cleared editorial teamReviewed by The My Debt Cleared editorial team Last reviewed 12 August 2026Next review 12 February 2027 Editorial policy
There is emergency help available today, and you should use it. Your council runs a Household Support Fund that can provide cash, vouchers or fuel top-ups. Food banks operate across the UK, usually through a referral, and Citizens Advice can issue one. None of this affects your benefits and none of it goes on any record that matters.
You can get free, impartial debt advice

You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation. We would rather you got good advice somewhere than bad advice from anyone.

What to do now

  1. Contact your local council and ask for the Household Support Fund or local welfare assistance scheme. Every council in England has one.
  2. Ask Citizens Advice, your GP surgery, your children's school or your housing officer for a food bank referral — all of them can usually issue one.
  3. If you are waiting for a first Universal Credit payment, ask about an advance. If you are already receiving it, ask about a Budgeting Advance.
  4. Check for unclaimed benefits with a free calculator — around £23 billion a year in income-related benefits goes unclaimed in the UK.
  5. Contact your energy supplier about emergency credit and their hardship fund.
  6. Ask your council about a Discretionary Housing Payment if rent is the pressure point.

What else you need to know

Stop paying your non-priority creditors while you sort this out. Credit cards, loans, catalogues and Buy Now Pay Later come after food, rent, energy and council tax — always. Write to them, tell them you are in financial difficulty, and get free advice. They cannot take your food.

Where to get help today, free

You can get free, impartial debt advice

You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation. We would rather you got good advice somewhere than bad advice from anyone.

If you are in crisis and struggling to cope, Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123, at any hour, from any phone.

Once the immediate pressure is off

Understanding your longer-term options is the thing that stops this happening again. Eight questions, and we will show you what applies where you live.

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There's a bailiff at the doorA court claim form has arrivedA council tax summons has arrivedYou've been threatened with evictionYour energy supplier is threatening disconnectionMoney is being taken from your wagesA creditor is threatening you
What My Debt Cleared is

We are a marketing introducer. We publish information and, if you ask us to, we pass your details to an FCA-authorised debt advice firm we work with so they can contact you. We do not give debt advice, we do not provide debt solutions, and we do not decide whether any solution is right for you. We are paid by the firms we introduce people to, never by you. Read exactly how we make money.

Sources and further reading

  1. Citizens Advice, Debt and money
  2. National Debtline
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