Support with the cost of living

We know that many of our customers have increased financial pressures at the moment due to high inflation and the rise in the cost of living.

If you’re worried about how you will manage, or already struggling to pay your bills, please contact our dedicated financial inclusion service:

�� 0800 085 1171

�� financialinclusion@castlesandcoasts.co.uk

A member of our team will contact you for a chat about your individual circumstances and how we may be able to help.

The government has published information on extra support that’s available and you can find out more by clicking on the links below:

www.helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/ housing-support/ www.gov.uk/government/publications/ autumn-statement-2022-cost-ofliving-support-factsheet/cost-of-livingsupport-factsheet

Could you be eligible to claim benefits?

You might be able to claim benefits, even if you’re working, or increase your current benefits if you’re:

of working age and on a low income sick or disabled of State Pension age and on a low income a carer responsible for children

You can check by visiting www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators and our Financial Inclusion Team can support you too.

Cost of living payments

The government will automatically send you ‘cost of living payment(s)’ if you:

• get certain benefits – for example, Universal Credit, PIP or Attendance Allowance

• are over State Pension age and get Winter Fuel Payments

You will get as many cost of living payments as you’re eligible for. For example, if you get Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Winter Fuel Payments, you’ll get three cost of living payments. You won’t have to pay tax on them and they won’t count as income when calculating your benefits.

Cost of living payments for 2023/24 have been announced in the government’s Autumn Statement and again will be paid automatically if you are entitled.

Support with energy bills

The Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners

This year, these households will get £300 as a top up to the Winter Fuel Payment. It’s likely to be the same for next year’s payment.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme

The Energy Bills Support Scheme gives every household £400 off their electricity bill if paid directly to the energy supplier. You don’t need to do anything to get the money and you won’t have to pay it back. You should have started to get the £400 in 6 instalments starting from October 2022. Anyone who pays electricity as part of their service charge is not eligible for this assistance.

The government have also put a limit for most households on the rates your supplier can charge you for gas and electricity, called the Energy Price Guarantee. You don’t need to do anything to receive this as it automatically applies to all types of energy tariffs. It started on 1st October 2022 and runs until 31st March 2023. It means the average household energy bill is capped at £2,500 per year until March 2023. This is cap is due to rise to an average of £3,000 from April 2023.

Help for those on disability benefits

Those on certain disability benefits should have already received a one-off £150 this year and will receive a further £150 in 2023/24. This includes everyone eligible for the Armed Forces Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Scottish Disability Benefit and War Pension Mobility Supplement.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2022 to 2023 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October 2022 and March 2023. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.

You may qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you either:

• get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, which should be paid automatically onto your account.

• are on a low income and have high energy costs. You will need to make an application via your energy supplier.

What other help you could get

If you’re struggling to pay your bills you might be able to get a fuel voucher or grant from your energy supplier. You will need to contact your energy supplier direct to find out.

If you need somewhere to stay warm

Many local councils now have directories of ‘warm spots or warm spaces’. These are public places which anyone can use to stay warm, for example a library or a town hall.

Check if you can get help from your local council

If your household is in council tax band A-D, your local council should have sent you a £150 council tax rebate in April 2022. You don’t need to pay it back.

If you can’t get the rebate, the council might still offer you financial help. For example, they might help you if you’re in council tax bands E to H and you get certain benefits. Contact your local council to find out more.

Getting help with essential costs

Your local council might help you pay for things like your energy and water bills, food or essential items like clothes or an oven. This help is known as ‘welfare assistance’ or the ‘Household Support Fund’. Each council runs their own scheme. You’ll need to check if you can get support and what type of support is available.

Foodbanks

You don’t have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council. If you do get benefits, they won’t be affected if you start getting money from a welfare assistance or Household Support Fund scheme. It was announced in the government’s Autumn Statement that a further £1billion is being provided to extend this scheme for another year from April 2023.

Foodbanks provide emergency food and support to millions of people every day. They work with a wide range of agencies such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in need and issue them with a foodbank voucher. CCHA is one of the agencies that are able to refer you to your local foodbank. Vouchers can then be used for a foodbank parcel that has three days’ nutritionally balanced and non-perishable food.

Working out your budget

There are lots of budgeting tools available online to help you understand:

• What money you’ve got coming in and what you have going out

• Where you might be able to cut costs

You’ll find lots more help and advice by contacting any of the organisations below:

Charitable grants

You might be able to get extra money from a charity through a grant. Some of these grants are open to everyone, others might be available to you based on your situation – for example your health or your previous or current job. Visit the Turn2Us website for more information.

If you’re finding things difficult

You should talk to your GP if your money problems are affecting your mental health. You can find other ways to get help with your mental health on the Mind website.

If you need to speak to someone right now you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (Monday to Sunday at any time). You can also text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer. Texts are free, anonymous and confidential from anywhere in the UK.