Information, advice and help for everyday essentials
Food
- If you are experiencing financial difficulties
- If you have less than a week’s supply of food in the house
- If you are unable to afford to buy any food and have nowhere else you are able to turn
You may be able to get a voucher for a foodbank parcel, baby bank or a referral to a food club for access to reduced cost food. There are also several other charities that referral services may be able to access.
You can request a referral from several local organisations.
Citizens Advice Dudley & Wolverhampton
Citizens Advice is a service that is open to all.
Citizens Advice Dudley & Wolverhampton are also operating support hubs across Dudley.
Job Centres
- Dudley Jobcentre Plus, Alexander House, 32 Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, DY1 1JR
- Halesowen Jobcentre Plus, Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, B63 4AH
- Stourbridge Jobcentre Plus, Scotland House, 169 Lower High Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1ES
Call 0845 604 3719 or 0800 169 0190
Textphone 01384 243499
Family centres
You can contact a local family centre is you have children in your household up to the age of 18.
- Stourbridge Family Centre - Forge Rd, Stourbridge, DY8 1XF - call 01384 818780
- Halesowen Family Centre - Lye By-Pass, Stourbridge, DY9 8HT - call 01384 813954
- Brierley Hill Family Centre - 18 Parkes Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3DY - call 01384 813322
- Dudley North Family Centre - Bayer Street, Bilston, WV14 9DS - call 01384 813096
- Dudley Central Family Centre - Selbourne Road, Dudley DY2 8LJ - call 01384 812440
Other referral routes
There are also some schools and GP’s that are registered as referral agencies, speak to your local ones to see if they can help you.
New recipe book for young people
With support from Dudley Council, a group of Young Commissioners have produced their own recipe book full of quick and easy meal ideas for young people living on their own.
Download the recipe book here:
Clothes and furniture
If you need help to get furniture or clothes due to financial pressures any professional that is supporting you can refer you to Provision House.
Healthcare costs
The cost of looking after your health can sometimes start to add up but there are ways to reduce some costs.
Healthcare travel costs scheme
If you are receiving universal credit or on a low income, you may be able to claim travel costs refund for hospital appointments.
Prescription Prepayment Certification
The current prescription charge is £9.35 per item. You can save money on prescription costs, by buying an NHS prescription prepayment Certificate.
There are 2 options to choose from:
- A 3 month prepayment certification costs £30.25. It will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months.
- A 12 month prepayment certification costs £108.10. It will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year.
Care leaver Prepayment Prescription
In the Black Country, care leavers who are not entitled to free prescriptions, can apply for a prepayment certificate so they do not have to pay for prescribed medication.
Care leavers who are eligible for the prepayment certificate must be:
- Registered with a GP
- A care leaver and eligible to receive a leaving care service from either Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton Children's Services
- Under 25 years old
- Not already exempt from prescription charges
Exemption from prescription medication
You could get free prescription medication if you are receipt of benefits, on low income or those with certain medical conditions.
NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC)
If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, an HRT PPC could save you money.
Each item on an NHS prescription usually costs £9.65. You can buy an HRT PPC for a one-off payment of £19.30 (the cost of two single items).
Before buying an HRT PPC, check if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs using their eligibility checker.
The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months, regardless of why they are prescribed. The HRT PPC does not cover all HRT medicines. Check if it covers your HRT medicine.
If your HRT medicine is not covered, or you also get prescriptions for items other than HRT medicine, you may save more with a 3 or 12 month PPC that covers all NHS prescriptions.
Health visitors
You can discuss any financial difficulties with your health visitor. They will be able to refer you to a range of services.
Integrated plus
Integrated Plus is a social prescribing service that supports people aged 16 and over. They work with people who pay regular GP visits, are at high risk of hospital admission and/or are vulnerable.
Dental Care
You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you're:
- under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
- pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- being treated in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist (but you may have to pay for any dentures or bridges)
- receiving low income benefits, or you're under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low income benefits
Transport costs
GOV.UK's Help for Households site provides national options for help with transport costs.