If you don’t have enough money to live on, you might be able to get help to afford essentials like bills and food. This includes the Household Support Fund and cost of living payments.

Cost of living payment 

Click here for guidance on getting an extra payment to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits. The Citizens Advice also has lots of advice on their website. 

Benefits

Find out what support you might be able to get to help with your living costs. You can get benefits and other financial support if you’re eligible. Visit: https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support

Local authority support

Help available depends on your circumstances and which area of the country you live. Check what support is available via your local council: 

The government has also provided extra money to local councils in England via the Household Support Fund. This is to help support those who are most in need with the rising cost of food, energy and water bills. Your local council will decide who is eligible for help. You do not necessarily have to be on benefits to get help, but you must be on a low income. Contact your local council for more information and to see if you can get help. You can also find infomation on the Council Tax Rebate here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-rebate-factsheet#what-is-the-council-tax-rebate. 

Alternative payment arrangements 

If you’re facing financial issues that are affecting your ability to manage your money, and/or you are are in arrears with your rent, the Department for Work and Pensions may be able to offer an Alternative Payment Arrangements. This means they could pay housing costs of Universal Credit directly to your landlord, offering payments more frequently than monthly, or splitting payment between partners. Visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-alternative-payment-arrangements/alternative-payment-arrangements

Warm home discount 

The Warm Home discount scheme has undergone some changes and will now be used to help even more people in England and Wales. The main changes include increasing the value to £150, and continuing to provide rebates to one million low income pensioners while creating a new group of households on low incomes with high energy costs to benefit from the scheme.

Other government heating schemes include cold weather payments of £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1st November and 31st March, to all eligible households; and winter fuel payments to residents born on or before 25th September 1956.

If you have a pre-payment meter and you are struggling to keep it topped up, there is support to help you. Emergency fuel vouchers give your meter a boost while you get back on your feet. Contact your supplier right away and ask them for help.

Bills

Home is somewhere you want to feel safe and warm. Not being able to afford to heat or power your home can be very worrying and stressful. The government’s Help for Households campaign provides information on help with your energy bills.​​. Visit: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/

Fuel Bank Foundation

People living in fuel poverty can now access additional support from the Fuel Bank Foundation

Northern Powergrid is the latest electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to join forces with Gas Distribution Networks Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN and Wales & West Utilities and DNO Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution to support the Fuel Bank Foundation. The companies have already committed to providing the charity with a combined £575,000 fund over two years to support households in a fuel crisis.

The additional support from Northern Powergrid means the fund will be raised by a further £25,000 and can be extended to provide more households in energy crisis with much needed support this year.

The money will be used to provide same or next day emergency financial support to people struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters. Fuel Bank Foundation will also provide additional ongoing support to help manage energy costs, working together to support families out of crisis and find better energy deals.

Fuel Bank Foundation has already provided support to more than 5,320 people through the energy companies’ partnership, who have been referred by local councils and food banks, Citizens Advice and charities such as Macmillan and Scope.

People who are struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters can access the funds via their local Citizens Advice.

For practical advice, visit fuelbankfoundation.org

How to save money, reduce waste and stay safe at home

Click here to read this energy efficiency guide for young people, created in collaboration with young people supported by Barnardo’s

Financial assistance from your union 

If you are a member of a union, you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance from them. Members of UNISON may be able to access financial support via the “There for You” scheme. It can help with things like general living costs, household appliances, urgent repairs, disability equipment and adaptations, utility bills and funeral costs. Find out more on their website.

Current and former members of the RCN may be eligible for a grant from their Foundation Benevolent Service. These grants are offered once per calendar year and you won’t be asked to pay it back. Find out more on their website.

Other unions that offer similar hardship schemes include:

Warm spaces

Warm spaces are free public places where residents can go to get warm, save money on their heating costs, avoid social isolation, and receive support and advice.

Find a Food Bank

We know it’s a challenging time at the moment financially and would like to share a list of local foodbanks and community organisations who can help support you if you are struggling to get by.  

Feeding Families is also a local charity which was established by an ex-NHS employee. They provide a range of support to individuals and families experiencing difficulties in the current financial climate. Find out more about feeding families here: https://feedingfamilies.org.uk/

Community Clothing Scheme

The Community Clothing Scheme is a regional charity which supplies parents and carers with free school uniforms.

The charity’s uniform department stocks over 200 items of school clothing for North East schools (providing over 100 North East school logos).  

They also have items from lunch boxes to outerwear and footwear. 
For more information about the charity, how to order uniforms, and the shops locations/addresses in Wallsend, South Shields, Sunderland and Monkseaton can be found on their website: 

https://www.communityschoolclothingscheme.org/our-services-in-detail

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