Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Debt advice and financial help

If you're having trouble managing your money, with rent arrears or dealing with debt, you should get help as soon as possible. You can get free and impartial advice and support from a range of places.

Managing debt

Citizens Advice County Durham are a local charity who provide debt and other advice to thousands of people every year. Their services are free, confidential and impartial, so if you're struggling with your Council Tax bill, rent payments, household bills or are worried about debt, they can provide guidance, money advice and debt solutions.
Gov.uk: options for paying off your debts
National Debtline offers expert advice via phone and email to deal with debts. This includes self help solutions such as debt management plans, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements to people with multiple debts.
Money Helper provides help and advice to manage your money and deal with debt.
StepChange is a registered charity offering free and impartial debt advice. You can get an instant, no obligation assessment of your debt problem and tailored advice based on your situation.

Financial help

Our Welfare Rights Service can advise you on what benefits you may be entitled to and how to claim them.
Visit our care and support services website - Locate for details of organisations that can provide financial assistance, grants and trusts that you may be able to apply for depending on your situation.
Gov.uk: apply for a budgeting loan are interest free loans available to people who have claimed income-related benefits for 26 weeks or more and can be used to buy essential items such as rent, furniture and clothes.
Turn2Us is a charitable service which helps people to access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other sources.

Credit Unions

The NEFirst Credit Union is a non-profit making co-operative that offers savings and loan services and exist solely to benefit their members. They also offer schemes to purchase furniture and white goods by weekly payments.

Dealing with loan sharks

See our illegal money lending page for information about dealing with loan sharks.

Homelessness

See our Get help to avoid becoming homeless information - we will also help you find debt advice.

Citizens Advice

The Citizens Advice County Durham: get help can give you independent debt advice as well as help and advice on money matters, welfare benefits and tax.