Date: 23 November 2012

If you've been badly affected by the recent floods, help is available.

You can get help from the Environment Agency's special Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or by visiting the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. You can get help with advice on:

• how to stay safe in a flood
• how to get your home back to normal after a flood
• how to deal with an insurance claim for flooding
• how to prepare your home or business to reduce the damage flooding can do to your property or belongings

Help from your insurance policy - homeowners

If you own your home, you should ring your buildings and contents insurance policy company to find out about repairs and replacements for damaged items and to get help with alternative accommodation.

You can get more advice on how to deal with an insurance claim for flooding on the Environment Agency website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

Help getting flood insurance in high risk areas

You may be finding it difficult to get flood insurance in high risk areas. Information and advice advice on how to approach getting flood insurance in high risk areas is available on the National Flood Forum website at www.floodforum.org.uk. They can also be contacted on 01299 403055. The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has also published a guide 'Obtaining flood insurance in high risk areas' which provides information that will help you obtain a suitable policy. The guide is available on the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk.

Help from your insurance policy – tenants

If you rent your home, you should contact your landlord and contents insurance company to get help with repairs and alternative accommodation.

You can get more advice on how to deal with an insurance claim for flooding on the Environment Agency website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

For more information about your rights as a tenant when your home has been damaged by flooding, see Help for flood victims who rent their homes in Housing fact sheets.

Help from your local authority

If your home has been so badly damaged by flooding that you can no longer live there, you may have become homeless. You may be entitled to help with your housing from your local authority.

For more information about help from your local authority when you are homeless, see Finding accommodation.

Help from Jobcentre Plus

It might be possible to get some money from your local Jobcentre Plus to help you deal with your situation.

If you were affected and you get Income Support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, income-based Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit and don't have insurance or much savings, you could get a community care grant. This is a one-off payment that can help you with your additional costs because of the flooding, such as replacement of your essential household goods. You won't have to repay the money.

If you're a flood victim, but don't get these benefits, you might still be able to get a crisis loan. This is an interest-free loan to help you pay for emergency costs for food, clothing or household items.

For more information about community care grants and crisis loans, see Help for people on a low income – the Social Fund.

You can call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 (8am - 6pm Monday to Friday). A textphone service is available if you have a speech or hearing impairment 0800 023 4888.

Employment rights

You might not be able to work because of transport problems caused by the flooding, because your workplace is flooded or being cleaned up following a flood.

Workplaces which have escaped the floodwater may still be without electricity or running water, and it would be unreasonable and unsafe for employers to expect you to work until power and water supplies have been restored.

If you're willing to work but are unable to because of the flooding, this doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't be paid.

If your employer is refusing to pay you or making deductions from your wages because of the flooding, you should get help from an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Help from your local CAB

If you're having problems because of the flooding, an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau, should be able to help. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.

Citizens Advice