{"id":24,"date":"2023-04-26T10:42:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T00:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studiokettle.com.au\/wip\/living-costs\/?page_id=24"},"modified":"2023-06-06T14:09:59","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T04:09:59","slug":"financial-crisis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studiokettle.com.au\/wip\/living-costs\/financial-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Support if you need urgent financial help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A personal financial crisis can be caused by many things, including factors that are completely outside of your control. Whether you\u2019ve lost your job, received an unexpectedly big bill, or have too many debts, if you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed by money problems, it can be said that you\u2019re experiencing a financial crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to remember in this situation is that you\u2019re not on your own. If you recognise that you are in trouble and need help, there are services that can help you take back control and get back on your feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical help through the \u2018Ask Izzy\u2019 website<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ask Izzy<\/a> is a website that connects people in need with everyday necessities, food, housing, money help, family violence support, counselling and more all around Australia. It\u2019s free and anonymous. If you\u2019re on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don\u2019t have credit or access to wifi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a financial counsellor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Financial counsellors are professionals who can guide you through your situation, help you find solutions for debt and advocate on your behalf. Their services are always free, confidential, and non-judgemental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organisation<\/strong><\/td>How to get help<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
National Debt Helpline<\/strong>
<\/a>Information and advice Resources for specific money issues<\/td>		1800 007 007
Online chat<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Paying bills and debts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re having trouble paying bills and debts due to financial hardship, you may have the option to have your payments waived, reduced, postponed, or spread out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find that many billers and lenders would rather agree to reasonable new terms of payment and keep you as a paying customer than chase you for a debt. Most larger businesses have a \u2018hardship department\u2019 with dedicated and trained workers for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, what is financial hardship?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may qualify for financial hardship support when you don\u2019t have enough income to meet your expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can’t pay your bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you can pay something towards your bill or debt, you might want to take a look at the following resources for help navigating the options available to you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payment terms<\/strong><\/a><\/td>steps to take for negotiating new terms of payment<\/td><\/tr>
Energy and water providers<\/strong><\/a><\/td>contacting hardship departments<\/td><\/tr>
Templates and other resources<\/strong><\/a><\/td>produced by the Consumer Action Law Centre<\/td><\/tr>
Bank hardship departments<\/strong><\/a><\/td>contact details of the hardship departments of most Australian banks<\/td><\/tr>
Urgent help<\/strong><\/a><\/td>where to get help in an emergency by Moneysmart<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t <\/strong>pay anything at all, contact the National Debt Helpline<\/a> on 1800 007 007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always keep a written record when contacting anyone about difficulty paying a bill. It\u2019s wise to keep a note of when you called, who you spoke with, and what you discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centrelink payments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Australian Government provides income <\/strong>support payments through Centrelink. You can use this tool<\/a> to learn about your eligibility for payments. If you already receive Centrelink payments, you may be able to access Crisis support payments<\/a> and advance payments<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t already get Centrelink payments, go to Services Australia<\/a> to learn more about the services and support they offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dealing with Centrelink<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people find dealing with Centrelink difficult. Applying for payments can be confusing. Most payments are set too low and have overly strict requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

📌 See our dealing with Centrelink<\/a> page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Interest Loans<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No Interest Loans<\/a> (NILs) allow you to borrow money to help you get back on your feet without having any of the crippling interest or high fees that come with other forms of loans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does it work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NILs are typically offered for up to $2,000-$3,000 for rent or bond, essentials like fridges, washing machines, furniture, kitchenware, medical expenses, car repairs, education fees, and other goods and services you might need to get back on your feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are certain rules around who can apply for NILs. Generally, you must: <\/p>\n\n\n\n