Cost of living support
News
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12 October 2022
Millions of people across the UK are struggling to cover their essential household costs nowadays. The 'cost of living crisis' means we’re all paying a lot more for energy, food and many other goods.
To help you weather rising bills and costs, here are some benefits and discounts you might be eligible for.
Household cost
Cost of Living Payment
Households on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Tax Credits, will receive a payment of £650 this year.
The first instalment of the Cost of Living payment of £326 was made in summer and another £324 payment will be made between 8 and 23 November, and is in addition to the £400 discount on energy bills.
Disability Cost of Living Payment
From 20th September, 6 million people who are paid certain disability benefits will receive an automatic one-off £150 payment. The payment will help disabled people with the rising Cost of Living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs.
This is in addition to the £650 Cost of Living Payment for disabled people who also receive means-tested benefits.
Check if you’re eligible for the Disability Cost of Living Payment
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
In the winter months, pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills.
This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Check if you’re eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment
Household Support Fund
£1.5 billion has been made available to support the most vulnerable to cover their essential daily costs, like energy bills. Recipients include pensioners and families with children.
Local authorities can also issue food vouchers to families during the school holidays.
Contact your local Council to check if you’re eligible for the Household Support Fund
Budgeting loans
You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you’ve been on certain benefits for 6 months. This can be used for household items, rent in advance and travelling costs.
Check if you’re eligible for a Budgeting Loan
Cheaper phone and broadband
You may be eligible to move onto a social tariff if you’re struggling to afford your broadband or phone services.
Check the Ofcom website to see if you can switch to a social tariff
Help pay your Water Bill
Many water companies run hardship schemes or fund independent charitable trusts which can help you pay your bills.
Get support paying your Water Bill
TV Licence fee freeze
The TV licence fee has been frozen at £159 until 2024. This means households will not see any change to the licence fee until 1 April 2024.
Find out more information on free TV Licence for over 75‘s
Get help with all or part of your rent
You may get help with all or part of your rent.
There’s no set amount of housing costs support and what you get will depend on whether you rent privately or from a council or housing association.
Use a benefits calculator to find out if you can get benefits to help pay your rent
Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit
If you’re on low income, out of work or cannot work you may be eligible for Universal Credit. The government has made changes to allow working families to keep more of their money.
Check if you’re eligible for Universal Credit
Housing benefit
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you are state pension age or you’re in supported, sheltered or temporary accommodation
Check if you are eligible for Housing Benefit
Support for additional housing costs
You may be able to get support for additional housing costs if you’re already claiming Housing Benefit.
Contact your local Council to find out what support you can get
Council Tax support schemes
Councils run support schemes to help people on low incomes with their Council Tax bill.
Contact your local Council to find out what support is available
Discretionary Housing Payments
If you are on certain benefits you may be eligible for Discretionary Housing Payments which provide financial support to help with rent or housing costs.
Check if you’re eligible for a discretionary housing payment
Get help with interest payments on mortgages or loans
If you’re a homeowner on qualifying benefits, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on your mortgage or loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home.
Check if you’re eligible for Support for Mortgage Interest
Help with energy costs
Energy Bills Support Scheme
£400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from this October. This automatic, non-repayable discount will be applied in six instalments between October 2022 and March 2023 to help households through winter.
There is no need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details.Find out more here: Getting the Energy Bills Support Scheme discount - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Winter fuel payments
In the winter months, pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills.
This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment. Check if you are eligible here: Winter Fuel Payment: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Cold weather payments
£25 extra a week, if you’re getting certain benefits, is available during the winter when the temperature is zero or below for more than seven days.
Check if you're eligible here: Cold Weather Payment: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Improving energy in your home
Use this calculator to find ways to save energy in your home
Warm Home Discount
This autumn nearly three million low-income households are eligible for a £150 rebate on their winter electricity bills.
Check with your energy supplier to see if you are eligible
Help with childcare costs
Tax-free childcare
You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the cost of childcare.
Claim tax-free childcare
30 hours of free childcare
Eligible working families in England with 3 and 4-year-old children can receive 30 hours of free childcare a week.
Visit Childcare Choices for more information
15 hours of free childcare
Families in England who have 2-year-old children and are on certain benefits can get 15 hours of free childcare a week.
All families with children aged 3 and 4 can also access 15 hours of free childcare a week.
Visit Childcare Choices for more information
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
- under 16
- under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Claim back childcare costs
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, with up to £646 back each month for one child or £1,108 for 2 or more children.
Find out more about claiming back childcare costs
Apply for free school meals
Free school meals are available to pupils in England if parents get certain benefits.
Check if your child can get free school meals
Holiday activities and food programme
You can get access to free activities and food for your children in the holidays if they receive free school meals.
Contact your local Council to find out more
Claim Healthy Start vouchers
If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.
Check if you’re eligible for Healthy Start vouchers
Get help with maternity costs
You could claim a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child.
Check if you’re eligible for the Sure Start Maternity Grant
Income Support
Claim Marriage Allowance
Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer 10% (£1,260) of your personal tax allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner if you earn less than the personal tax allowance, which is usually £12,570.
Find out about Marriage Allowance
Extra money available for carers
You could get £69.70 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Check if you’re eligible for the Carer’s Allowance
Pension Credit for those on low income
You could get extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income: even if you have savings or own your own home.
Check if you’re eligible for Pension Credit
Get help if you cannot pay your tax bill
Contact HMRC as soon as possible if you cannot pay your tax bill. We’re here to help, and you may be able to pay what you owe in instalments, depending on your circumstances and what you can afford.
Find out what to do if you cannot pay your tax bill on time
Help with transport cost
Cutting fuel duty
Fuel duty for petrol and diesel has been cut by 5 pence per litre across the whole of the UK until March 2023. It saves £100 for the average car driver, £200 for the average van driver and £1,500 for the average haulier.
Save 1/3rd on rail journeys
You can get up to a third off train fares with a railcard in Great Britain, saving up to £142 a year on average.
Save one third on rail journeys with a railcard
50% off travel if you’re on Universal Credit
You may be eligible for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card if you’re on Universal Credit.
Find out more information on the National Rail website
Bus passes
In England you can get a bus pass for free travel when you reach the State Pension age.
Apply for an older person’s bus pass
If you’re disabled then you may be eligible for a disabled person’s pass if you live in England.
Apply for a disabled person’s bus pass
If you are worried about your finances, please get in touch. We have specialist financial advisers who can support you.