News Winter bills support and advice from MBC

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) will be on hand to help anyone who may be struggling to cope with the rising costs of household bills this winter.

Working with partners - local charity Involve, South East Water and Citizens Advice Bureau, MBC’s Council Tax, Benefits, Housing and Homelessness Prevention Teams will be joining forces to hold winter bills support events providing residents with advice about how to manage the cost of food, utilities and fuel.

Three events are being held next week; two in The Mall shopping Centre (Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 December), and the third at the Fusion Healthy Living Centre (Thursday 9 December), when teams will be on hand between 10am and 2pm to provide advise around Universal Credit, information about the Warm Home Discount Scheme, offer support with Council Tax payments household bill payments as well as general debt and money advice.

Supporting and attending some of the events is Maidstone’s Mayor, Cllr Fay Gooch who said:

“The rising costs of utilities, fuel and food has really hit a lot of people very hard this year.  We know that some of or residents are worried more than ever about how they are going to cope this winter, and the teams from Maidstone Borough Council are here to help. Working with partner organisations they can advise and support anyone who doesn’t know where to turn for help and they can support with information about funding that is available to them they may not be aware of. If you are worried, please don’t wait until it is too late and come and find out how we can help.”

The three Winter Bills Support events being held next week are:

Tuesday 7 December, 10am-2pm: The Mall Shopping Centre (first floor outside Muffin Break)

Wednesday 8 December, 10am-2pm: The Mall Shopping Centre (ground floor outside Iceland)

Thursday 9 December, 10am-2pm: Fusion Healthy Living Centre, 2-3 Cobb Way, Off Livingstone Walk, Park Wood, Maidstone ME15 9XF

All the advice the Council and partner organisations are offering is free, impartial, confidential and is tailored to help each individual situation.  The subjects the teams will be able to help with include:

• Council Tax Arrears Funding
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Homelessness Prevention and Support
• Social Housing Payments
• Rising Fuel Costs Advice

For more information or support Maidstone residents can email:  roadshows@maidstone.gov.uk

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