The increased pressure on our budgets from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis means many of us are finding we have more month than money, leaving us short before the next payday.
There are places you can find financial help.
Financial Help
Claimants of Universal Credit and other benefits could be due thousands worth of extra financial of extra help, but may not be aware of it.
Low income Brits are struggling with their household budgets in the face of rising costs – from household bills like gas and electricity to food and general cost of living – but they could get up to thirty different kinds of assistance.
Shockingly, around 23 billion pounds of benefit money is lost every year by not being claimed, with pensioners missing out the most. More than a quarter of million older people also don’t claim Housing Benefit which could save them £4,000 per year.
A complete list of help available…
Experts say one of the main problems remains that there is a stigma attached to asking for help, although people may genuinely not be aware that this help is available. So here’s a list of benefits you could be claiming to help you through hard times. Click on the title of each one for more information:
Home and Utilities Bills Discounts and Grants
Reduced council tax bills
You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%.
You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. What you get depends on where you live, your individual circumstances, such as your income, the number of children you have, the benefits you receive, etc, your entire household income, whether your children live with you and whether other adults live with you.
Capped water bills
If you live in England or Wales, are on certain benefits, have a water meter and use a lot of water because you either have a medical condition or three or more children, you could claim financial aid. This is called the Water Sure scheme.
People who meet the criteria for help may have their water bill capped at the amount of the average household water bill for their water company, or in some cases, even less.
Warm Home Discount
You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. This is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March. There are 2 ways you could qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
The first, is if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, the second is if you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.
Cold Weather Payments
If you are eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You will receive £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Free or cheap broadband from TalkTalk, Virgin Media and BT
Do you know about Social Tariffs? Ofcom has discovered that millions of families struggling with the rising cost of living could save £144 each on their annual broadband costs.
If you claim certain benefits, you could be eligible to apply for a social tariff for cheap broadband at home. This is likely to be a slower speed than other tariffs, but it will be enough for most household use.
Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £36,000) to make changes to a home
You could be eligible for a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, such as widening doors and installing ramps, improving access to certain rooms and facilities, providing an essential heating system or adapting lighting and heating controls.
In England, the maximum is £30,000; in Wales it is £36,000; in Northern Ireland it is £25,000. There are no DFG’s in Scotland, but there may be similar support available.
Homeowners can apply for a grant towards new heating systems
Homeowners and landlords in England and Wales can apply for a partial grant to cover the cost of replacing their boiler with a more efficient system such as air pumps.
In Scotland, you may be eligible for a similar boiler grant.
If you don’t want to replace your gas boiler with a new system like an air pump, you could be eligible for a free boiler grant if your boiler is over 8 years old and you receive certain benefits.
Up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments
If you were born on or before 26 September 1959 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. How much you can get depends on who lives with you and when you were born. Find out more here.
Help with housing costs
You may be eligible for housing benefit. This helps with the cost of your rent. Housing Benefit will not cover heating, hot water, energy or food. If you need help, use a benefits calculator to check what else you might be entitled to.
Transport Grants and Discounted Travel
Half price bus
You may get free or reduced price travel with the Statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass. The scheme provides travel for free on local bus services anywhere in England, between 9:30am and 11pm during weekdays and anytime on weekends and bank holidays. Speak to your Job Coach to find out more.
Discounted Rail Fares
There are a range of railcards available that offer discounts on rail travel. These include the 16-25 railcard, the family and friends railcard, the senior railcard and more. Find out which railcard suits you here.
Discounted Travel in London
You may be eligible for free or discounted travel on all TfL transport – Tube, Rail, Bus, and Tram – if you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or other benefits.
Job Seeker Help
Help with new job costs
Going back to work does not mean giving up all your benefits. Some benefits may carry on, and others may become available once you’re working.
Help getting back to work may come with a range of costs that can be covered, such as:
- Payment for new clothes if a uniform or specific clothes are required
- Payment in full or part for a training course required for you to qualify for a job
- Money for travel costs in your first month before you get paid
- Money for specific equipment, such as a set of knives for a chef, or a laptop to work remotely
What you can get depends on what is the main barrier to you returning to work, and what is considered a reasonable cost to do so.
You should contact your Job Coach at the Job Centre if you’ve found a job and you or your partner have been getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit.
Your coach will help you to manage your move into work, and sort out changes to your other benefits, including tax credits. What you can get will depend on how long you were claiming these benefits without a break.
Healthcare Discounts and Free Health Support
Free or discounted gym membership
You may be eligible for free or concessionary memberships at your local gym or leisure centre if you claim:
- Housing benefit
- Income Support
- Job Seekers’ Allowance
- Working Families Tax Credit
- Carers Allowance
- Universal Credit
If you have a long-term chronic condition or struggle with obesity, your GP may also be able to refer you to a free gym membership programme designed to help your condition.
Free prescriptions for people on low incomes
Some groups are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions such as those of state pension age, children under the age of 16 (or 18 if in full-time education), and people eligible for a medical exemption certificate.
Others can apply for certificates that entitle them to free NHS prescriptions due to their low income. Some prescribed items are always free, including contraceptives and medication given to hospital inpatients.
Free dental treatment
You may be eligible for free dental treatment if you receive Universal Credit and either had no earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period, or if you or your partner had limited capability for work, and you either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period.
Pregnant people or people who have had a baby in the last 12 months (or have had a stillbirth in the last 12 months), those currently in hospital, and children under 18 (19 if in full-time education) get free NHS dental treatment.
Eye tests and discounted glasses
You’re entitled to a free NHS sight test if you are under 16, between 16 and 18 years old or are in full time education. You are also eligible if you are over the age of 60. If you are registered as partially sighted, blind, have diabetes or glaucoma, you are also entitled to a free sight test.
Similarly, if you are over the age of 40 and a close family member has been diagnosed with glaucoma or have been advised by an eye doctor you are at risk of glaucoma, you are eligible.
You are also entitled if you or your partner receive, or are the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
As well as free eye tests, you may be eligible for discount vouchers towards glasses. If your glasses are provided by an ophthalmologist in a hospital setting you may be eligible for free glasses or further discounts.
Free wigs or fabric support provided by the NHS
You can get free wigs and fabric supports if you are:
- under 16
- 16-18 and in full-time education
- a hospital inpatient
- a war pensioner and the wig or fabric support is for your accepted disablement and you have a valid war pension exemption certificate
You may also be eligible if you receive certain benefits.
Free health travel costs
f you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
Discounts and Freebies for Children
Free school transport
You may be able to get help with home to school transport for your child. You can search for your postcode here, to see the help available in your area.
Free school meals
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are all automatically eligible for free school meals.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will also be eligible for holiday schemes such as breakfast clubs, so make sure you check with your school or local authority for details.
Discounted childcare costs
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit and either you or your partner have a job. The most you can get back each month from childcare costs is £1031.88 for one child and £1768.94 for 2 or more children.
Food vouchers for kids as part of the Healthy Start scheme
You may qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under 4. In addition, you must be receiving at least of the following benefits:
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Your monthly earned income must be less than £408. The vouchers can be used to buy fresh cow’s milk, fresh or tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried or tinned pulses, and infant formula made from cow’s milk. For children with milk allergies, they will be able to receive prescription formula from the GP instead.
Maternity grant up to £500
You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You usually qualify for the grant if you are expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth and have children already. You or your partner must also be in receipt of certain benefits.
In Scotland, it is the Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
You need to claim within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months of their birth. It is a grant, which means you don’t need to pay it back and it also won’t affect your other benefits.
Free Money
£1,200 free cash as part of the Government’s Help to Save scheme
Saving when you’re on a low income seems impossible – but with the Government’s Help to Save account, it’s not only possible but lands you with a whopping 50% bonus.
If you earn even £1 of Universal Credit in one month, you’re eligible to open an account. If you have a joint claim, you can both have your own account. Save up to £50 a month and receive a bonus in the second and fourth year which is the equivalent of 50% of the highest balance held in those two years. If you have previously had a Help to Save account you cannot have another one.
Help with funeral costs
You can get a Funeral Expenses Payment if you get certain benefits or tax credits, you meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased and you’re arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Bereavement support payments
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months. This must be claimed within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you’ll get fewer monthly payments.
