The new guide, titled ‘How to Avoid Debt During Illness’, has been introduced after nearly 60% of all calls to the charity’s Support & Care helpline over the past year related to financial problems – representing an 8% year-on-year increase.
The guidance, from the LTC’s Support & Care arm, offers practical help, including benefits sufferers may be entitled to, advice on planning a budget and dealing with creditors and how to pay for prescriptions and travel costs for those that need to go to hospital.
The charity also hopes to raise awareness of the problems of long-term illness and financial difficulties across the trade, and will be targeting individuals and pub companies with the guidance.
Liz Gaffer, director of marketing and charity services at the LTC, said: “Being diagnosed with a long-term illness or suffering from a disability is bad enough, but when you’re running your own business it can be critical. Not being able to work or run your business may put you at risk of getting into financial difficulties, which in itself can result in further damage to your physical and mental health.
“We want people working in the licensed trade to know that if they have been signed off work with a health problem that we are here to offer useful guidance on money matters, and to advise them on how to avoid falling behind with the rent and other bills.”
The guide is available here. Find out more information here or by calling the free helpline 0808 801 0550.