Southall residents who are struggling to pay their bills in the economic downturn are being urged to get help straight away.

Due to the increase in unemployment, Ealing Council is reminding people who have lost their jobs or whose circumstances have changed, to check if they are entitled to benefits to help them in the short-term.

Residents struggling to pay their council tax are being advised to get in touch with the Council to ask for help and not let debts mount up.

Residents with no income, or who are low earners, may qualify for help to pay their rent or council tax and those on low incomes could benefit from tax credits.

Information about the different types of benefits available is on the Council’s website and an online calculator can work out if people qualify for help.

Council tax can be paid by direct debit to spread the payments and thus avoid bills mounting up.

Councillor David Scott, said: "The benefits system is there to help people in the short term if they have suffered a sudden change in circumstances so we would encourage people to be proactive and find out what help might be available to them."

"I’d also encourage anyone having trouble paying their council tax bill to get in touch as soon as possible and not to let the debt mount up."