Cost of living support
We are all being affected more and more by the cost of living, if you are struggling, please get in touch and we can check you are getting all you're entitled to and managing your money well. Meanwhile check what you could be missing out on below:
Council tax rebate – from April 2022, local authorities were giving those in households in Bands A-D a £150 council tax rebate to assist with energy costs. Those who pay by direct debit were refunded more quickly than those who pay by other means, so ensure you have received yours if you qualify. Click here for more information.
Cost of living payments – two payments totalling £650 are being made to more than 8 million low-income households. The first instalment of £326 was paid between 14 – 31st July and another payment of £324 will be paid in the Autumn – but the date hasn’t been confirmed. Click here for more information.
Energy rebate – from Oct 2022 the first instalment of the government’s £400 energy bill rebate will start to arrive. This is a discount of £66 or £67 applied to a household’s energy bills every month until March 2023. How you get it depends on how you pay. If you pay by direct debit, you’ll receive a payment direct into your bank or your DD will be reduced, and if you are on a prepayment meter you will receive a cheque or voucher in the post. In addition to this anyone over the age of 65 will be given an extra winter fuel payment of £300 and people on disability benefits will receive another £150. Click here for more information.
If you are struggling with your energy bills tell your energy company. If you do, that means you are legally protected and they have to work out a payment plan with you.
Warm Homes discount – this is via your electricity supplier if you meet the eligibility around pension credits or low income, there is a one-off payment of £140. Click here for more information.
South West Water – their Water Care tariff could reduce residents’ water bills by 50% and applies when total household income after housing costs is less than £295, in addition to receiving means-tested benefits and having a meter or assessed charge. Water Sure requires you to be on a form of benefit, have a meter, three children under the age of 19 living at home, or someone in the home with a medical condition which requires extra water. Click here for more information.
Household Support Fund - during the pandemic, local authorities were given pots of money to assist customers with the financial pressures associated with covid. As the cost of living has increased, some of these pots have been boosted by the government and can be accessed where individuals are particularly struggling. More information around criteria can be found on each local authorities websites.
Discretionary Housing Payment – these were introduced as welfare reform began and are still available where individuals are struggling to afford payments towards their rent account. In order to qualify, the individual must be in receipt of a benefit to help with their housing costs (either Housing Benefit or Universal Credit). Payments are administered by local authorities and more information is on each local authority’s website.
Westward Household Support Fund - we recently launched our new fund which is being used to assist our customers who are impacted in the rises to the cost of living. Click here for more information.