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“If you’re struggling financially and finding it difficult to pay central costs, you can check to see if you’re entitled to support,” says Lee Healey of , a financial advice service. “The and , a charity that helps people access benefits, are two good places to start.”

“Many charities, like Turn2Us, offer non-repayable grants to help people on low incomes. You can check to see if you’re eligible on their website.”

Johanna Noble, Money Editor at , says it’s worth checking if you are eligible for using the government’s benefits calculator.

“If you are on universal credit, other benefits or a low income, you could also be eligible for a council tax reduction. This is a long-standing discount of up to 100%, and it doesn't matter if you own your own home or rent, or whether you're employed or not. Anyone can apply, but what you get depends on where you live, as each council runs its own scheme.”

And if you’re a parent whose income has dropped, you could be eligible for child benefit, worth £21.05 a week for one child under 16, £35 a week for two.

Lee Healey of IncomeMax says it’s a good idea to use this time, particularly if you’re on furlough, to get on top of your finances and start budgeting.

“Use this time to take control - get on top of your household budget and write down exactly what income you have coming in, and what your outgoings are.

“When you’ve written it out, try and make some adjustments on your outgoings where you can so you feel more in control of your money.”

“If your child previously got free school meals then your school should make sure that something is put in place to provide this help in another way,” says Will Hadwen, legal advisor at .

With more families staying at home, plenty of parents could be in for a nasty surprise in the form of a higher electricity and gas bill. If you’re worried about falling into debt, early intervention is important, says Lee Healey.

“It’s better to get debt advice as soon as possible if you’re falling behind on payments, don’t wait until things start to get out of control.”

“Get in touch with a specialist debt advisor - organisations like can offer support and advice if you’re concerned about falling into debt.”

Johanna Noble says gas and electricity suppliers might be able to help if you’re falling behind on your payments.

“Some companies can offer payment breaks, reduced repayments, and time to pay. Suppliers should not disconnect credit meters during the pandemic.”

The weekly supermarket shop can add another strain on the family budget, especially with lots of mouths to feed.

“The main way to save on your supermarket shop is by 'downshifting',” says Johanna Noble of MoneySavingExpert.com

“This means dropping a brand level lower than you're used to - for example, buying supermarket own – to see if you can tell the difference. If you can't, then stick with the cheaper product. It's another pain-free saving, as you don't notice the difference, except in your wallet.”