Our Council Tax team's phone lines are currently very busy. To avoid waiting for a long time, please use our online service to manage your account and make payments online.
Homes and Money Hubs
Find out what services are on offer from the two hubs in the borough.
Our Homes and Money Hubs are open for a drop in at Barking Learning Centre and Dagenham Library from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday or via homesandmoneyhub@lbbd.gov.uk.
Allocation to a Homes and Money Hub Caseworker
The criteria below must be met for allocation to a Homes and Money Hub Caseworker.
Allocation to a Caseworker may also not apply to anyone who has been allocated a Caseworker in the previous year and is returning with the same issues without a relevant change in circumstances
If the criteria are not met, the Homes and Money Hub may still provide urgent food assistance and will provide Information, Advice and Guidance to signpost to relevant support and services
1. At least 2 out of these 3 Primary debts:
- Rent Arrears
- Council Tax Arrears
- Utility arrears (Electricity, Gas, Water)
Or
2. One Primary debt from Rent Arrears, Council Tax Arrears, Utility arrears and at least one of the following applies:
- at risk of eviction
- significant physical/mental ill-health or disability
- limited capacity to manage affairs
- victim of domestic abuse
- victim of modern slavery
- victim of loan sharks
- care Leaver
- has complex Universal Credit or other benefit issues, such as Benefit Cap, Under-occupancy (Bedroom Tax) or under-claiming
- has mortgage arrears
- a carer of a child or an adult with a disability
Or
3. NEET - 16- to 18-Year-olds who are not in Education, Employment, or Training
Response Timescales
Once the referral has been received the client can expect the following:
If the Criteria is met :
- allocation to a caseworker within 5 days, then
- contact from the Caseworker within a further 2 days
Please Note: when working with a caseworker you will be required to provide bank statements or other documents to support your financial situation. These will need to be produced within 10 days.
If Criteria is not met:
- A response with information, advice and guidance within 5 days
Information, advice and guidance signposting
Lots of residents need straightforward advice and signposting to help them resolve issues and do not need a Homes and Money Hub Caseworker. Residents can refer to:
- Council Tenant with rent arrears only
- Benefits and Discretionary help
- Employment or training
- Debt
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax advice
- Housing advice
- Applications for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)
- Claim Council Tax Support
- Applications for Hardship payment schemes
Need help sorting your finances? For more free, expert money advice, visit Barking and Dagenham Money
Contact us
To request help from the Homes and Money Hub for yourself or someone else you can make a referral.
Make a Homes and Money Hub referral
If you have any questions, you can email homesandmoneyhub@lbbd.gov.uk or drop in to Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7NB or Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham, RM10 9QS.