
How to balance illness and debt
Your finances are important; your health is too.
Being diagnosed with a long-term illness affected many areas of Anna’s life, especially her finances – with all of this, she started to miss payments.
Losing someone can affect more than how you feel
After Clare lost her husband, her life changed dramatically. She was worried about looking after her finances and staying on top of things. Find out how banks can help.
This story shows typical customer situations and how banks can help. You’re not alone – we’re here to help you.
David had been ill for a long time, but that didn't make it any easier for Clare to cope when he passed away.
Coming to terms with the loss and being on her own naturally made life tougher. In turn, it became harder to keep track of bills and payments.
To avoid her worries, Clare stopped opening bank statements and letters altogether. She was behind on her Council Tax payments and loan repayments. Feeling troubled, Clare didn’t know what to do or where to go for help.
Are you concerned you may not be able to pay your bills after losing someone in your family or household? Help’s always at hand.
As soon as you feel like you might go through some financial difficulties, give your bank a call – it could help make things better.
To prepare for the call, have some information about your financial situation ready, including your incomes and outgoings. You might be talking for a while, as your bank will want to understand your situation in detail, so make sure you set aside some time.
If you’re a Barclays customer, here are some numbers you can reach us from.
If you’ve got more financial commitments than you can manage or have debt with other creditors, contact National Debtline or StepChange for free advice on the phone or online.
If you need to see somebody in person, contact Citizens Advice.
If you’re concerned about your finances, try StepChange Debt Charity’s 60-second debt test – a few simple questions will tell you if you need advice and where to get it.
These services can provide further help and support
Your finances are important; your health is too.
Being diagnosed with a long-term illness affected many areas of Anna’s life, especially her finances – with all of this, she started to miss payments.
When debts aren’t the only things on your mind
Mental health and money management can sometimes be two sides of the same coin. For Sarah, her mental health led to her missing payments, which added to her anxiety.
Our bereavement guide
We’re here to provide help with the things you need to do when someone close to you dies – follow our guide to understand the next steps.
How to improve your financial health
Develop your money-management skills with our easy-to-follow guides on budgeting, saving, planning for the future and handling debt.