If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, please contact the Basildon Community Hub for further information by either of the following methods:
Email: coronavirusresidents@basildon.gov.uk - (recommended for an early response)
Phone: 01268 533333 (select option 1)
Basildon Council's Community Hub and its partners will continue to support the most vulnerable and isolated residents in our community with food and medication deliveries, hearing aid battery replacement and a befriending service, as well as giving general advice and guidance to borough residents during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Community Hub can help If you do not have the support of family and friends and...
Please note: If you have the support of family and friends you should continue to seek that support.
Basildon has the highest number of new cases in the county, with cases on the increase right across Essex. The County's Director of Public Health and Wellbeing, advised that cases will continue to accelerate unless urgent action is taken and so a move to 'High' from the 'Medium' level was requested of and has been agreed by the government.
The rate of growth means cases are doubling every one to two weeks. Without action now, the restrictions that Essex residents would have to face would be even more severe, last longer and do more damage to the Essex economy, and we want to do all we can to avoid that.
It is important that we all play our part now, to help us avoid further restrictions, which none of us want.
The following links provide further advice and guidance on what you need to know about local COVID alert levels:
Currently the Covid-19 restrictions in Southend and Thurrock remain unchanged. Under the new restrictions for the rest of Essex, travel outside the county is discouraged unless it is for work purposes - any wider contact increases the risk of spreading the virus.
You can still travel within high alert level areas to hotels and other guest accommodation, but you should only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
You can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble.
You can continue to see friends and family you do not live with (or have not formed a support bubble with) outside, including in a garden or other outdoor space. When you do so, you must not meet in a group of more than six - which includes children.
If you live in a High alert level area you cannot meet indoors with people outside of the area.
The following links provide further advice and guidance on what you need to know about local COVID alert levels:
In response to the Coronavirus the Government has announced that individuals losing income after being asked to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace scheme may be eligible for a lump sum payment of £500.
From 28/09/2020, low-income residents can receive a lump sum payment of £500 if:
a) self-isolating after testing positive
b) have been identified as a positive contact for COVID-19 and have been asked to self-isolate by the NHS
To be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, an individual must:
As mentioned above, you must be receiving a qualifying benefit to be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment, under the standard scheme.
However, if you are not receiving one of those benefits, but meet all the other criteria, you may qualify under the Test and Trace Support Payment discretionary scheme. If this is the case, after you've applied, an officer will contact you to discuss further.
For full details of the Discretionary Scheme, read here: 
COVID-19 - Test and Trace Discretionary Scheme [277.95KB]
For full details of the Standard Scheme, read here:
COVID-19 - Test and Trace Standard Scheme [277.95KB]
Basildon Council's Community Hub and its partners will continue to support the most vulnerable and isolated residents in our community with food and medication deliveries, hearing aid battery replacement and a befriending service, as well as giving general advice and guidance to borough residents during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Contact the Community Hub if you do not have the support of family and friends and you still need support with essential supplies now that deliveries from the government shielding service have ended.
Please note: If you have the support of family and friends you should continue to seek that support.
Our town centre offices at The Basildon Centre in St. Martins Square, Basildon are now open from 9am-5pm for pre-booked appointments only. Appointments can be booked by calling 01268 533333.
The Essex Library branch in The Basildon Centre has now reopened.
Residents and customers are advised to access council services and information from this website in the usual way.
Visitors to the Basildon Centre who are not pre-booked will be asked to provide their details in order to comply with the Essex wide approach to NHS Test and Trace.
For further information on NHS Test and Trace see:
If you are self-isolating or staying at home due to being vulnerable and are without any support from friends or family who could help you with food shopping or collecting a medical prescription , please contact Basildon Community Hub for support by either of the following methods:
Email: coronavirusresidents@basildon.gov.uk - (recommended for an early response)
Phone: 01268 533333 (select option 1).
Please note: this is a limited service and so we can only provide support to those most in need.
If you are self-isolating and someone has volunteered to do your food shopping, you should use a safe and secure way to pay the shopping volunteer for your groceries during coronavirus lockdown.
For guidance and advice on the safest and most secure ways to pay a shopping volunteer for your groceries, visit:
The Basildon Community Hub can offer help with the delivery of replacement hearing aid batteries.
If you usually receive your replacement hearing aid batteries from the hospital, and you are self-isolating or staying at home due to being vulnerable, and you need a replacement hearing aid battery, please contact Basildon Community Hub for support by either of the following methods:
Email: coronavirusresidents@basildon.gov.uk - (recommended for an early response)
Phone: 01268 533333 (select option 1).
NHS deliveries of hearing aid batteries by post are now back to normal and patients can contact Basildon Hospital's Audiology Dept to request replacement batteries:
Phone: 01268 394732 ( Monday - Friday - 8am - 5.30pm)
Email: audiologyadult@btuh.nhs.uk
Please note: this service is exclusively for those who have an NHS record card for their hearing aid batteries.
Replacement hearing aid batteries are once again available from local libraries.
We recognise staying at home for long periods of time can be difficult and can feel lonely at times. Regular conversation with others can make a huge difference to how we feel.
If you or someone you know may be feeling isolated or lonely, Basildon Community Hub have a great befriending team who will provide support to borough residents who are feeling isolated or lonely.
For more information about befriending, please contact Basildon Community Hub by either of the following methods: :
Email: coronavirusresidents@basildon.gov.uk - (recommended for an early response)
Phone: 01268 533333 (select option 1).
The Essential Living fund is a grant based scheme open to anyone to claim. The scheme covers everything from furniture to day to day living expenses such as groceries, nappies, toiletries, money for pay as you go fuel meters.
For more information or to make an application please visit: Essential Living Fund Applications - Essex County Council Area or:
Phone: 0300 7900124.
In line with the government roadmap, on 15 June 2020 significant changes were made to the regulations to ease restrictions on business closures. These changes mean that further businesses and venues can open, in particular non-essential retail.
To reduce social contact, some businesses and venues, including many of those in the leisure and hospitality sectors must remain closed. To see the full list of business and venues that must remain closed visit:
Failure to follow the law relating to these closures can lead to the business being issued a prohibition notice or the individual responsible for the business being issued a fixed penalty notice or being prosecuted.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now suspended all face to face interviews. This is for the safety of employees and visitors, in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Residents receiving benefits do not need to attend their job centre in person. Those who receive benefits will continue receiving their payments as normal.
For information on applying to Universal Credit, please visit: Gov.UK - Apply for Universal Credit.
A response we received from DWP stated:
'We are seeing an unprecedented volume of intake and are currently redeploying everyone and giving everyone limited training to enable them all to deliver part or all of this Universal Credit process. We will work with our local contact to address this where possible. The advances are paid by DWP not by the Council, we will still assist with our discretionary rent and council tax payments as normal.'
The DWP are not expecting normal activity during this time, including any eligibility conditions that are monitored. They have suspended all face-to-face intervention, including for new claimants.
You will need to notify the DWP and the Council for Universal Credit and other benefits. Reducing your working hours, generally, increases your benefits/tax credits support.
From 13th March, if you are self-isolating with symptoms of COVID-19, you are eligible for SSP.
From 20th March, if you are advised to self-isolate or you are showing symptoms COVID-19, you can obtain an 'isolation note'. Complete an online form from NHS 111, do not go to a doctor. In addition, Jobcentre Plus as reason for not attending events will accept this note.
Residents entitled to SSP will get £94.25 per week if they are too ill to work. Your employer pays this for up to 28 weeks.
The government has set out a Hardship Fund for local authorities in England, enabling them to reduce council tax bills for 2020 to 2021. This applies to all working age people receiving Council Tax Reduction and does not include residents who only receive a discount or exemption, e.g single persons discount.
The majority of Basildon's Council Tax Reduction customers will receive a maximum £150.00 further reduction to their council tax bill.
A one off payment will be automatically credited to your account, there is no need to contact the council. For ALL working age Council Tax Reduction customers we will reduce your council tax accounts and send you a revised council tax bill with a revised instalment payment plan.
Universal Credit is a payment to help with living costs, it is paid monthly and is calculated based on your household and income circumstances. Universal Credit can also help you with your housing costs.
For more information or to make an application please visit GOV.UK - Universal Credit or:
Phone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344.
If you are unable to work, because you are ill or self-isolating because of the coronavirus you may be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay. This currently includes people who are self-employed.
You are not eligible for SSP if you earn less than £118 per week or are self employed. Instead, you are advised to claim for Universal Credit (UC) or 'new style' Employment and Support Allowance.
For more information on Statutory Sick Pay please visit GOV.UK - Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or:
Phone: 03000 560 630
Pension Credit is an income related benefit to help people who can claim as state pension there are 2 parts of Pension Credit. Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit, which one you are entitled to depend on your income and savings circumstances.
For more information Pension Credit or to make an application please visit GOV.UK - Pension Credit or:
Phone: 0800 99 1234
If you have not old enough to claim State Pension Credit, to claim financial assistance with your Housing Costs you need to claim Universal Credit.
For more information or to make an application please visit GOV.UK - Universal Credit or:
Phone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344.
Housing Benefit is financial assistance for those on low income to help with their rental charges. It will be administered by Basildon Borough Council, and is paid to people who are old enough to claim a state pension
For more information or to make a claim please visit Apply for housing benefit and/or council tax support or:
Phone: 01268 533333.
The government has announced that your landlords are not allowed to evict you or take any court action for the next 3 months.
If you rent from the council and would like more information about the rent please visit Housing, rent and homelessness or:
Phone: 01268 533333.
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) is additional financial help for people who are in receipt of Housing Benefit or the Housing Costs element of Universal Credit.
For more information or to make an application please visit Apply for Discretionary and/or Exceptional Hardship Payments or:
Phone: 01268 533333.
If financial insecurity caused by COVID-19 has left you unsure on how you can pay council tax, speak to us. We have not been advised by the government to offer council tax holidays, but other help is available. Including council tax reductions for those who are eligible and alternative payment methods for direct debits.
Council Tax Reduction is a discount for persons of working age who are on a low income or unemployed.
For more information or to make an application please visit: Information on Council Tax Assistance
Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) is available for those on a low income who are old enough to claim a State Pension. The discount is administered by Basildon Council.
For more information or to make an application please visit: Information on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
Essential Hardship Payment (EHP) is additional help for those who are in receipt CTR but are still unable to meet their Council Tax costs.
For more information or to make an application please visit: Information on Discretionary and / or Exceptional Hardship Payments
With many people struggling financially it can be concerning about how to repay your debts and ingoing costs. Some options that you may wish to consider are:
First, Citizens Advice have developed a new digital tool, full of helpful ways to maximise household income, save money and prevent financial problems. The guide has been designed specifically to help anyone living in the south of Essex and is available to download via the link below.
Download 'Making Every Penny Count' from Citizens Advice [3.29MB]
For more information from Citizens Advice please visit: Citizens Advice - Help with debt or:
Phone: 03444 111444
Text relay: 03444 111 445
PLEASE NOTE: At the moment Citizens Advice are unable to make face to face interviews because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
It's important we look out for our family, friends and neighbours, especially if they live alone, are elderly or have pre-existing health conditions.
You may be able to help without having face-to-face contact. You could:
If you, or a friend or family member feels anxious or worried, there is some helpful information on the Mind website, please visit: MIND - For better mental health.
For more volunteering ideas and downloadable resources on how you can make a difference, see also: Community volunteering and helping others.
