Claim what you're entitled to immediately — Universal Credit, New-Style Jobseeker's Allowance (if you have enough National Insurance contributions) and any Council Tax Reduction. The Turn2us calculator gives a full picture in a few minutes.
Contact every essential lender — mortgage, rent, council tax, energy, water, credit cards, loans — and ask about hardship options. Doing this before missing a payment gives you the best options and protects your credit file.
Prioritise essentials: rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, food, phone/internet, essential travel. Everything else can wait, be reduced or be paused. Free debt help can help you build a realistic post-redundancy budget without judgement.
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