Support with the Cost of Living Crisis

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, here’s what you need to know…

Grants to help you pay off your energy debts

If you’re in debt with your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay off those debts. If your supplier doesn’t offer grants, you might be able to get one elsewhere. View our webpage to see your options.

Agreeing a payment plan with your energy supplier

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills you should tell your supplier that you want to pay through a payment plan, which will cover what you owe plus an amount for your current use. You’ll pay fixed amounts over a set period of time, so you can pay what you can afford. Your supplier has to take into account how much you can afford and how much energy you’ll use in the future.

Help from your local council

Your local council might be able to give you vouchers or a prepaid card to help pay for essentials like food or fuel. You could also get household appliances like a fridge. You may also be eligible for housing benefit if you are unemployed or have a low income.

Contact your local council to check if you're eligible.

Benefits Calculator

It’s worth checking that you’re getting all of the benefits that you’re entitled to. Use a benefits calculator to check if there’s anything else that you can get. You should also check with your local council to see if you can get a council tax reduction or discount.

Government benefits calculators can be found here.

Make a budget

If you want to make a budget, here are 3 steps.

1. Write down all your earnings after tax, any money from benefits or any other income you may receive.

2. Write down all your outgoings. This includes existing debts, regular payments and other expenses.

3. Use our budgeting tool to work out your budget.

Before you start, have your bank statements or banking app to hand. You could also keep a spending diary to keep track of your spending ahead of completing a budget.

Check you’re being paid the right wage

The minimum wage is set to increase on 1 April 2023 so you should make sure that you will be paid the right amount.

The rates that will apply are as follows:

National Living Wage — £10.42

Aged 21 to 22 — £10.18

Aged 18 to 20 — £7.49

Aged 16 to 17 — £5.28

An apprentice — £5.28

You can use the GOV.UK National Minimum Wage Calculator to check whether you are being paid sufficiently. If you are being paid less, it will tell you how much your employer owes you.

For guidance on what to do if you are being paid less than minimum wage, visit our website here.

Help with school costs

If you’re on a low income or claim Universal Credit, you might be able to get free school meals for your children.

You can apply for free school meals here.

If you qualify, you might also be able to get other help with school costs - and your child's school might get extra money. You might be able to get help from your local education authority with some costs such as uniforms, school activities and school transport.

Learn more on our national website.

Healthy Start vouchers and free vitamins

If you're on a low income and you're at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 years old, you might be able to get free vitamins and Healthy Start vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables and infant formula milk.

Ask your midwife or health visitor if you might be eligible. You can call the Healthy Start helpline or check online.

Healthy Start Helpline: 03456079823