<section><h2><p>Are you in 'financial stress'? Ask yourself these seven questions.</p></h2><p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><em>Since January,</em></strong><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"> did any of the following happen to you because of a shortage of money?</em></p></p></section><section><h2><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">I could not pay electricity, gas or telephone bills on time.</em></p></h2></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I could not pay the mortgage or rent on time.</em></p></h3></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I pawned or sold something.</em></p></h3></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I went without meals.</em></p></h3></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was unable to heat the home.</em></p></h3></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I asked for financial help from friends or family.</em></p></h3></section><section><h3><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I asked for help from welfare/ community organisations.</em></p></h3></section><section><h2><p>If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you are classified as being "in financial stress".</p></h2><p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The latest HILDA survey report found that in 2017, 9.7% of people experienced two or more of the indicators of financial stress (down from 10.9% in 2016).</span></p></p></section>