Household Support Fund
A one-off hardship grant payment of up to £200 is being made available to help eligible households across three groups who are experiencing financial hardship:
- Households with children under 18
- Households of working age adults
- Households of pensionable age adults
The fund is intended to support households to cover essentials such as food and energy (gas, electricity, and water) costs. For more information on how to claim, contact your local council - www.gov.uk/find-local-council and search for “household support fund” on their website.
£400 Fuel Payment
The government has announced all households in England, Scotland and Wales will receive £400 to help with rising fuel bills this autumn.
Households will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, and £67 a month from December to March 2023.
- If you pay by direct debit, either monthly or quarterly, or by card you will see an automatic deduction off your bill.
- If you have a "smart" prepayment device you will see an automatic monthly top-up added to your account
- If you have a "non-smart" prepayment device you will receive an energy bill discount voucher in the first week of each month, via text, email or in the post. You will have to redeem these in person at your usual top-up point, such as a local Post Office.
[Note: If you pay for your heating bill through your service charge, this means that the rate you pay for your energy will already be agreed and you may not receive this rebate.]
Council Tax rebate
If you live in Council Tax bands A to D in England you’ll get £150 back from your bill to help with the cost of living. For most people the rebate is automatic, however if you don’t pay your Council Tax by direct debit and you have not yet received your rebate, then get in touch with your council.
If you’re worried about not being able to pay your rent, please speak to your rent payment officer who’ll be able to help you.
Cost of Living Payments
You could get up to 3 different types of payment depending on your circumstances, on a particular date or during a particular period:
Two payments totalling £650 are being made to low-income households who receive the following benefits:
- Universal credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
- Pension credit
If you are eligible you will be paid automatically with your usual benefit payment. The first instalment of £326 was paid to most people between 14 and 31 July. Another £324 will be paid in autumn.
You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023, you’ll get an extra £300 for your household paid with your normal payment from November 2022. This is in addition to any Cost of Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.
For more information visit Cost of Living Payment - www.gov.uk
Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024
The government has announced that further cost of living payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024. These payments are:
- £301 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during spring 2023
- £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit, to be paid during summer 2023
- £300 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during autumn 2023
- £300 for pensioner households, to be paid during winter 2023 to 2024
- £299 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid in spring 2024
Further guidance will be published when more details have been announced, including the qualifying dates.
Heating your home
You may also receive help with heating your home this autumn and winter:
This autumn nearly three million low-income households are eligible for a £150 rebate on their winter electricity bills. Check if you’re eligible with your energy supplier or network operator | Ofgem
In the winter months pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay heating bills. This winter, they'll also receive an extra one-off £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment. Check if you’re eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment here - Winter Fuel Payment: Overview - www.gov.uk
For support with a particular cost, please click on one of the boxes below...
Emergency support
If you're having trouble with your cost of living, there's emergency support available.
Household costs
Information about managing your household costs, from energy bills to rent and council tax.
Children
Find out about tax-free childcare, free school meals and other support you could receive from the government.
Shopping
When it comes to your shopping, there are various discounts and offers available.
Food
How to find your nearest food bank, alongside information about a food project based in Birmingham.
Transport
Whether it's travelling to work, finding work or going to school, help is available.
In-work and jobseeker help
Whether you're looking for a job or you're already in-work, there's support available to you.
Furniture
If you're looking to furnish your home, here are some tips to get you started.
Charities & Trust Funds
Various charities and trust funds offer support on a wide range of things.
Live Well
We know the rising cost of living is affecting a lot of people, so we've pulled together lots of resources, ideas and tips to help you "live well".
Watch our Money advice video to check out our top 5 tips for saving money, or explore our full Live Well hub here.
You can also receive dedicated support from our money advice team, please click here to find out more.
