In the current financial climate, many people can’t pay their energy bill and are falling behind with payments. There are things you can do to make sure your energy debt doesn’t overwhelm you.

Payment Plans and Supplier Support

First of all, if you fund yourself struggling to pay your energy bill, the best thing to do is to get in touch with your supplier: regulator Ofgem makes sure your supplier helps you. This is usually with an affordable payment plan. It’s also good to know that your supply will not be immediately cut off if you fall behind on your payments – your supplier has to offer you a payment plan and go through a number of steps before your supply is at risk.

It is important to make sure your supplier has an accurate bill – many people rely on estimated bills that can wildly overestimate what you owe. Take readings regularly and keep submitting them, even if you’re behind on payments, because tariffs can change and without an accurate record of how much energy you used and when, you could be overpaying. For example, if your variable tariff has 15p per kwh in April, and it goes down to 12p per kwh in May, but you only submit readings in January and June, you’re missing out on reduced rates.

More Payment Plan Help

As well as a payment plan review, you may in certain circumstances be able to arrange reduced payments or a payment holiday.

If you prepay your energy bills, similarly your supplier can help, including £5 of emergency credit on both your gas and electricity meter, accessible by entering the card or clicking a button when the option pops up – this will have to be repaid when you top up.

Friendly credit also means you won’t be cut off if your credit runs out on evenings, weekends and bank holidays when the shops are closed.

If you can’t afford to keep the meter topped up, you may be eligible for additional support credit (or extra support credit): again, contact your supplier. This may also apply to the vulnerable: pensioners, disabled customers or those with a long-term medical condition.

Ofgem has introduced protective measures to ensure customers have access to discuss this kind of help with their supplier, on a case by case basis.

If you outright can’t pay your energy bill, you may also be eligible for hardship funds, depending on your circumstances and ability to pay. Again, get in touch with your supplier to begin the process.

Charitable Trusts

There are also many charitable trusts and funds offering schemes and grants to help with your energy costs, faulty or old boilers, or to help make your home more energy-efficient.

A good starting point is the British Gas Energy Trust as they’ll help support not just their own customers, but those with any supplier.

There’s also more specific customer help from: EDF Energy Customer Support Fund / E.on Energy Fund / E.on Next Energy Fund / Ovo Energy Fund/ Octo Assist Fund / Scottish Power Hardship Fund.You may need to get help applying to these schemes as they can be fairly complicated procedures. Most require you to have spoken to a debt advisor and worked out your income and expenditure in detail, ready to present your case. You can get help from some charities to do this.

Government Support

If you have a standard credit meter, the Warm Home Discount is a £150 rebate applied to your electricity bill between October and March. If your energy supplier is part of the scheme, you’ll be notified of how this will be applied to you.

Another way to save on bills is to pay by monthly direct debit, which earns interest on overpayments for the supplier, and assures them you’re a regular payer: it could also save you up to £90 a month. If you pay by direct debit, you might find you bank a lot of credit in the summer months. This can be claimed back if you need it, but remember your winter bills will be higher and the surplus is designed to cover it.

Finally, it’s worth noting that doing things like leaving electrical products on standby, or the heating on all day, drives your bills up, so look around you home and see where you can cut costs by switching things off and carefully regulating your output.

What Jasmine Says

MoneyMagpie’s Jasmine Birtles says, “If you can’t pay your energy bill firstly don’t feel alone – you are one of many in the country who are really struggling to pay. Secondly get in touch with your energy provider immediately. They all have sections of the business that are there to help people who can’t pay their bills for one reason or another. It’s possible that they will be able to reduce your bill or spread it over a longer time period to enable you to pay. Also they might put you on a meter so that you only pay as you use the energy. This can help you with budgeting although the downside is that it tends to be more expensive than being on a contract.

“Also there are some energy-related benefits that you may be entitled to. Use the benefits calculator at Entitledto or Turn2Us to see if there’s anything you could apply for and also speak to your local Council to see if they have any hardship grants that could help you get over this particular financial pressure.”

MoneyMagpie also take a look at all the other things you may be eligable for financial help with here.

The post All The Things You Can Do If You Can’t Pay Your Energy Bill appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Did you know there’s support for the newly self-employed? Even at this difficult time, there are still many resources of financial and business support you can access.

If you’ve found yourself with a sudden drop (or total loss) in your earnings, being self-employed could be the way to go.

So, what help is available for the newly self-employed?

• Universal Credit
• Help to Save
• Access to Work
• Personal Independence Payment
• Business mentorship
• Prince of Wales Trust
• Startup funding
• Peer-to-peer lending and ‘angel investors’
• Crowdfunding
• Local authority funding
• Social enterprise funding
• Training grants
• Apprenticeship funding

There’s a lot to get through, so let’s get started!

Universal Credit and Self Employment

Universal Credit is a flexible benefit. You don’t have to be out of work to access it. When you’re self-employed, you’ll submit a monthly assessment of your income and expenses.

When your net profit is below a certain amount (depending on your circumstances), you’ll receive some or all your Universal Credit payment. The months you earn more, you’ll receive less or no Universal Credit.

This means you can continue to be a UC recipient until your business returns a solid income every month. Unlike Job Seeker’s Allowance, which stops as soon as you find work, UC is an ongoing safety net.

You will need to prove that you are ‘gainfully self employed’. This means that:

1. Your job is your only or main income
2. You have regular work
3. You can show business activity, such as client invoices

There is something called the Minimum Income Floor. This varies from person to person, and is based upon what someone on PAYE in a similar role to yours would earn at National Minimum Wage. If you earn over this amount, your Universal Credit is worked out based on what you’ve earned over this floor (so deductions are made from your earnings to the level of the MIF). If you don’t meet the MIF, your Universal Credit deductions are based on what the MIF would be. The MIF only applies if you are not in a start-up period (see below) or you are gainfully self employed. If you are not gainfully self employed (for example, you have a main PAYE job and a small self-employed job on the side), the MIF won’t apply.

If you’re just starting out, you have one year during the launch of your business to get Universal Credit support without a MIF applied. You don’t have to look for other work, though you will meet with your work coach every few months. Your Universal Credit is based on your monthly income – and losses (such as a month where your expenses outweigh your income) are rolled to the following month.

Universal Credit eligibility

There are some limits to accessing UC.

You must:

1. Have less than £16,000 in capital or assets
2. Not own a second property
3. Apply jointly with your partner if you live together.

This means if your partner earns above a certain amount, you won’t be eligible for Universal Credit. You don’t have to be married – if you live with your partner, their income is taken into account.

Universal Credit, Self Employment, and Disability

Self employed people who claim Universal Credit but have a disability or mental condition which affects their ability to work full-time will be able to apply for a Work Capability Assessment. You will be assessed to decide if your health impacts your self employment opportunities, and could be placed in one of two groups for extra financial support if it is deemed your health puts you at a disadvantage to finding work. You will either be in the Limited Capability to Work group or the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity group – the former has some additional financial support, the latter has more (how much depends on your circumstances).

If you are found to be in these groups, other exceptions may apply – such as removing the requirement to meet the Minimum Income Floor after a start-up period.

Help to Save

If you do qualify for Universal Credit, you can plan to open a Help to Save account, too.

Once you earn above £793.17 in one monthly assessment period, you can apply for the account. You don’t need to earn this income every month – just the once. That’s your household income, too – so the £793.17 can be the total earned between you and your partner in one month. You can both open a separate Help to Save account.

Help to Save is a useful savings account with a hefty government bonus. Save between £1 and £50 each month, and the government pays you a bonus worth 50% of the highest balance you’ve saved.

The account lasts for four years, and the bonus is paid to you in year 2 and year 4. The maximum bonus you can receive is £1,200 (£600 in both year 2 and year 4). After the fourth year, it automatically closes and you can’t open another one.

This extra money – and savings habit – is a great way to make sure you’re setting aside some money for your tax bills. Things like Payments on Account can take newly self-employed people by surprise, so an emergency buffer like this helps.

Read our in-depth Help to Save article to find out more.

Access to Work

A little-known resource, Access to Work helps people with disabilities get the right equipment or help to do their job well.

Employers can access the scheme to receive a portion of costs for special equipment. Self-employed people, however, can use the scheme to have most or all of the cost covered.

The grant covers things like desk equipment or speech-to-text software. It can also cover things like assisted travel to and from a workplace, or support worker services. You can also get help with work support such as ADHD counselling and work coaches, to help improve your productivity and find ways to cope in work environments.

Access to Work is not taxed and doesn’t have to be paid back.

How to apply

To be eligible, you must have a disability (a chronic physical or mental condition that affects your day-to-day tasks). You don’t have to receive disability benefits to qualify. You’ll also need to be in paid work (including self-employment) or due to start paid work imminently.

First, apply online for an Access to Work grant. There’s a slightly different scheme to apply for if you live in Northern Ireland.

You’ll be asked about your health condition, how it affects your ability to work, and what equipment you need to help.

Next, someone will come to assess your needs either at your office or home (if you’re working from home). If, for example, you need a special desk chair, they’ll measure you for this at the same time. You may not require an assessment to receive your grant – or your grant could be delayed until assessments are available again.

If your grant is accepted, you’ll receive the report along with information about the equipment and supplier. You can then order that equipment from the supplier – and either pay direct and be reimbursed, or have Access to Work pay the supplier direct.
If you work from home, you may have to pay a portion of the cost (usually around 7%) if the equipment could be used for personal use. For example, if you order a foot rest for your desk, but use your computer outside of work hours, this is personal use.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment is not means tested, which means you can apply whether you’re in work or not. It is designed to help people cope with the extra costs that come with having a disability. This might be hiring support workers, getting taxis if you can’t drive or walk with ease, or even things like getting a cleaner once a week so you can focus your energy on work-related activity instead.

You can spend your PIP on whatever you need to, in order to make your life a bit easier living and working with a disability.

There are two parts to PIP, and a lower and higher rate for each. You might qualify for one or both, at whichever rate an assessor deems suitable. The Daily Living component is £68.10 for the lower rate or £101.75 for the higher rate each week. The Mobility component is £29.60 lower rate or £71 higher. Qualifying for one component does not necessarily qualify you for the other.

Find out more and how to apply here.

Business Mentorship

Not strictly a funding opportunity or a benefit, but business mentorship programmes are a great place to start when you set up your business.

Your local Job Centre and your Citizens Advice Bureau will have plenty of advice about accessing local business mentorship schemes.

Getting a local business mentor means you’ll have access to important networking opportunities. They’ll also know where you may be able to access grants and funding on a local level, too.

Some local authorities run a business mentorship programme with lots of free workshops to educate new business owners on everything from marketing to managing taxes. You may also be able to access free (or very cheap) co-working office space, equipment, or storage units for inventory.

Prince of Wales Trust

The Prince of Wales Trust offers business mentorship and funding support to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30, inclusive – so if you’re already 30 you can apply.

The Trust has an excellent reputation for helping young people launch their careers. Its team offers mentorship and support, from business planning through to funding applications and beyond. You can also access the Development Awards for some training grants, too.

Take a look around the website to see if they can help.

Startup Funding

If you can start your business without borrowing, that’s a great position to be in. However, most new business owners will need to borrow some capital to get their business off the ground.

Startup loans offer a low-cost way to fund your new business plans. You don’t need the same established business requirements of a typical business loan, either. For example, you don’t have to have several years’ accounts to be approved for a loan.

Shop around for your startup loan. Like any other loan, some deals are better than others. Borrow only what you need – not the maximum amount available. This helps keeps costs down in the long-term without impacting your short-term cash flow.

Try the Startup Loans Company or Funding Circle as a first stop.

Peer-to-peer Lending and ‘Angel Investors’

A so-called ‘angel investor’ is like a dragon from the Dragons’ Den. They’ll fund part of your business venture in return for a percentage of the profits. You’ll often receive business mentorship as part of the deal, too.

There are lots of angel investor platforms available. Try to meet with (or, these days, video-call) potential investors before signing anything. Always read the small print and make sure you speak to several possible investors before choosing your partner.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is a bit more anonymous. You don’t get the business mentorship but you can access a larger fund.

Investors pay into a P2P fund in return for a percentage on their money. The P2P platform takes a percentage, too. Think of it like a loan – but without the need to satisfy high lending requirements of a high street bank.

Crowdfunding

We’ve all seen the success of Kickstarter and Crowdfunder. But how do they work?

You create an online pitch for anyone to see. This includes details about the products you want to develop, what it does, and what the crowdfunded money pays for. You can entice investors by giving them something in return for their cash. For example, they can buy the product early and at a reduced price, or you can offer them a listing on a sponsors page – anything you think will entice investors.

You have to set a target. If you fail to reach the funding target, you won’t get any of the money.

If you do reach your funding target, on the other hand, you will get your money. However, it doesn’t stop there. You’ll be held accountable for the cash and will have to prove you’ve done what you said you’d do with the cash.

Local Authority Funding

Check your local council’s business pages to see what assistance it offers. You might be surprised!

Many local authorities offer funding or mentorship programmes for new business owners. These schemes are often more prevalent in deprived areas, to encourage new companies to set up in that region.

Regionally, Wales and Scotland tend to have more local funding options for new businesses than England and Northern Ireland.

The funding available could be anything from a one-off grant to ongoing business support in the form of a rent-free office or shop space. Many grants need to be matched – so if you need £1,000, you’ll need to put £500 up yourself and ask for a further £500 in the grant.

In a post-lockdown world, you may also find new grants and schemes popping up as local authorities try to stimulate the economy and reduce regional unemployment. So, if you have no luck right now, keep an eye on it!

Social Enterprise Funding

If you want your new business to be a social enterprise, this opens you up to many more funding opportunities.

A social enterprise puts surplus profits back into the business to aid the community. You can still earn a profit and wage, but your overall work needs to have a social or environmental mission that benefits your local community and surrounding areas.

Running a business like this is similar to any other business model. However, instead of sharing profits in the form of dividends to shareholders, you put that money back into your business efforts to maximise your impact on the community.

Social enterprises qualify for all sorts of grants, including those offered by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Loans are available as a funding option, often with a percentage grant. This means you won’t have to pay back everything that’s borrowed, only the loan element. For example, the First Steps Enterprise Fund offers loans up to £30,000 – with 90% of that as a loan and 10% a grant.

Try The Grants Hub to find social enterprise grants and loans for your business type.

Training Grants

If you need to achieve a qualification before you can open your business, you may receive training funding to help.

For example, people on Universal Credit may apply to have some or all fees paid for, if they enrol on a short professional development course. The course needs to be an essential item – for example, your Gas Safe certification if you want to start a boiler engineer business. It could also include things like health and safety training for mobile beauty therapists, licence courses for security staff, or a PTTLS adult teaching qualification for tutors and workshop leaders.

The National Careers Service has some funding opportunities for courses, too.

If you’re on a low income, it’s also worth looking at your local adult education centres and courses. They’ll often offer free or discounted places to people on benefits or who can prove a low income.

Look at charities centred around your industry of choice, too. Screenskills, for example, offers bursaries and training opportunities for all kinds of people wanting to work behind the scenes in television and film.

Apprenticeship Funding

Do you want to set up a business with staff? If you’re not planning to go it solo as a freelancer or contractor, staffing costs will make up a huge overhead as you set up your company.

Apprenticeships offer a way to staff your company while training the new generation. New businesses have to fund 5% of apprenticeship costs, with the rest covered by a Government scheme.

You’ll need to follow the rules about working hours, and time off for study and exams, and assist with mentoring your apprentice.

Your apprentices could become full-time staff once they pass their course a few years down the line, too!

More Business Ideas and Tips

Feeling inspired now you know you’ve got lots of ways to fund your business idea? Check out these other business and freelance tips, too!

The post Benefits and funding for the newly self-employed appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

If you’re on a low income, or certain benefits, you can get a Cold Weather Payment from the government, as hundreds of postcodes in England and Wales will receive £25 over the next two weeks. 

What is a Cold Weather Payment?

The post Cold Weather Payment Available Due to Current UK Freeze appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Financial Help

Claimants of Universal Credit 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.

Universal Credit claimants almost doubled during the pandemic to 6 million Brits, and more than a third of these are working but claiming from the Department for Work and Pensions because their income is not high enough on its own. Benefits than can be claimed include Council Tax reduction.

Shockingly, 15 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, each one is linked to more information:

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

You should contact Jobcentre Plus 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 work 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.

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.

Free prescriptions for people on low incomes

Some groups are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions. Others can apply for certificates that entitle them to free NHS prescriptions. 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.

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

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

Discounted childcare costs

You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit. The most you can get back each month from childcare costs is £646 for one child and £1108 for 2 or more children.

£150 towards school uniforms

This is dependent on your local authority. Check if your local council provides help with the cost of school uniform and sports kit. If your council does not offer help, you can ask your child’s school directly.

£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.

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

Maternity grant up to £1,000

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.

Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £30,000) 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.

Homeowners can apply for up to £10,000 to pay for a boiler

You may be eligible for a boiler grant if your current boiler is over 5 years old and you claim one of the 16 benefits listed here.

help to pay for double glazing as part of the Green Homes Scheme

On 8th July 2020, the Chancellor announced a Green Homes Grant available in England, Wales, and Scotland. This scheme enables landlords and homeowners to fund, or partially fund, costs of upgrading their homes’ energy performance.

Up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments

If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills.

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).

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.

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.

The post All the things you can get financial help with (Updated) appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The energy price cap- the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of energy used – will fall from £2074 to £1,923 from October 1, but it’s still much higher than we’re used to and likely to remain so for some time. 

If fear you’ll struggle to keep your home warm this winter, here are some ways to get financial assistance across the UK. 

Household Support Fund 

In April The Department of Works and Pensions extended the funds availability to March 2024 and injected an additional £842 million to help those most in need with essential food and energy costs. 

Local Authorities have discretion on exactly how the funding is used by drawing from local knowledge and there is no set criteria for who is eligible but the grant is for those in the community most in need of financial help. 

You should contact your local council or take a look at their website to see what they offer and how to apply.  

Council Tax Discounts 

You might not realise it but you could be eligible to get money off your council tax bill.  If there is only one adult in the household you could get 25% off under the single person discount.  This includes if you are single and have a live in carer, only eligible adult with students in your home. 

Any adult diagnosed with a severe mental impairment who has a live-in carer is eligible for a 50% discount.  If they are living alone they will be eligible for a 100% discount. 

If you are on a low income or claim benefits then your household could qualify for a reduction up to 100%. 

If you’re home has been adapted for someone disabled this could potentially enable you to drop a tax band. 

Go to the www.gov.uk site and it explains how to apply for a council tax discount.  Sometimes payments can even be backdated, so check it out. 

You never know!  

Warm Home Discount Scheme 

If you get benefits, including universal credit, the guarantee part of pension credit, housing benefit or income based jobseekers allowance, you could get £150 off your electricity bill or £150 added to your prepayment meter.  

You will need to show that you have high energy costs so use the government’s online tool to see if you are likely to be eligible, www.gov.uk 

You don’t need to apply for the scheme – payments are automatic if you meet the criteria and you are with one of the following suppliers who are in the scheme. 

• Affect Energy   
• Boost  
• British Gas  
• Bulb Energy  
• Co-op Energy  (now part of Octopus) 
• E (Gas and Electricity)  
• E.ON Next  
• Ecotricity   
• EDF Energy  
• Good Energy 
• Octopus Energy  
• Outfox the Market   
• OVO  
• Rebel Energy   
• Sainsbury’s Energy   
• ScottishPower  
• Shell Energy Retail  
• So Energy  
• SSE (now Ovo) 
• Utilita  
• Utility Warehouse  
• 100Green (previously Green Energy UK) 
• Housing Benefit  
• income based Jobseeker’s Allowance  
• income related Employment and Support Allowance  
• Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits  
• Income Support
  

Fuel Vouchers 

If you can’t afford to top up your prepayment meter or you don’t use gas or electricity to heat your home, you could get a fuel voucher.  You will receive a code in a letter, text or email and this will allow you to credit your gas card or electricity key.  If you don’t have one of those contact your supplier to get one. 

Vouchers can be used at shops signed up to PayPoint or Payzone or a Post Office.  You’ll need to take your code and instructions with you as well as a form of ID like a passport or bill with your name and address. 

Check the expiry date on the voucher as some have to be used within 15 days.  Contact your local Citizens Advice office if you need help.   

Winter Fuel Payment 

This is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter for households with someone born on or before 24 September 1957. 

You could get between £250 and £600. The amount you will get incudes a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, this is between £150 to £300.  You’ll get this extra amount in winter 2023/2024.  If you are eligible you will get a letter in October or November to let you know how much you’ll get. 

Cold Weather Payments 

Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.  

You’ll get a £25 payment each time the temperature drops to 0 degrees or below for seven consecutive days between November 1 and March 31.  To be eligible you need to be receiving pension credit, income support, income based jobseekers allowance, income related employment and support allowance, universal credit or support for mortgage interest. 

If you’re eligible, you’ll get paid automatically. Go to the www.gov.uk website for further guidance. 

Energy Debt Grants 

If you find yourself getting behind with your energy bills, you could get a grant to help pay it off from your supplier.  Find your supplier below to see what they offer.  

British Gas Energy Trust  

Scottish Power Hardship Fund 

Ovo Energy Fund 

E.ON Energy Fund 

E.ON Next Energy Fund 

EDF Energy Customer Support Fund 

Octopus Octo Assist Fund 

If your supplier isn’t listed then charisgrants.com have partnered with UK energy companies to support household through the Let’s Talk Energy Fund, and you may find some additional help there.  

If you are a pensioner, registered disabled, have a hearing or visual impairment or suffer from long term ill health, then sign up to the Priority Services Register (PSR), it’s a free service which provides extra advice and support to vulnerable households including things like if there is a power cut. 

Local Energy Grants 

Always remember to check what your local councils are offering, if you don’t look you won’t know what you could get.  they may have ways to improve your home’s efficiency  whether it’s grants for boilers or insulation. 

And Don’t Forget 

If you’re struggling with money, there are things you can do to save on your regular living costs. Check what to do if you need help with living costs.  

If you’re finding it hard to pay your bills, you can get help. Find out more about getting help with your bills.  

You can also get help with debts.  

If you’re struggling to pay for food, find out how to get help from a food bank. 

The post The Energy Grants Edition: All the support available to help you pay your energy bills 2023 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

You have just six days – until August 28 – to make HMRC aware that your 16-year-old is continuing their education in some way, otherwise your payments will stop.

You should have received a letter warning you that Child Benefit will stop now your child has turned 16, but life is busy – and it can be easy to forget to update HMRC on your child’s plans. Forgetting to do this paperwork could be an expensive mistake – with the cost of living at a high, losing Child Benefit unnecessarily could be detrimental to many.

Child Benefit is currently worth £1,248 each year for the first child and £826 per year for additional children – a massive help for many, especially with the rising costs of food and clothing.

Alice Guy, Head of Pensions and Savings, interactive investor said:

“Children are still eligible for Child Benefit who are studying full time, which can include, A-levels, International Baccalaureate, home education – if it started before their child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special needs, T levels, NVQs up to Level 3 and traineeships in England.

“Although parents earning between £50,000 to £60,000 will start to lose their Child Benefit, it can still be worth claiming. Your pension contributions reduce your contributions as far as the taxman is concerned, so you may be entitled to keep at least some of your Child Benefit.”

The post Has your child turned 16? Act now to keep claiming Child Benefit! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The school summer holidays are in full swing, and children everywhere are basking in the thrill of time off school. But it can be difficult during the school breaks for those who claim free school meals during term time.

Missing out on those free school meals can place a strain on the wallets of parents, as well as cause stress. However, thousands of struggling households can get up to £390 in food vouchers for the holidays.

• The Household Support Fund (HSF)
• Food Vouchers
• England
• Wales
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland 

The Household Support Fund (HSF)

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was introduced by the government in 2021, and is a pot of money allocated to councils across England. The fund is worth over £2 billion so far, helping vulnerable households across the country.

Part of the fund is allocated to food – and helping those who claim free school meals or certain benefits receive support during the school holidays. What you can receive from the HSF depends on where you live – different council have received different amounts of money from the government. Similarly, some help is targeted at those who claim free school meals specifically, whilst other support is for those on certain benefits.

Food vouchers

Local authorities tend to deliver the scheme through a variety of routes – however many give vouchers to households. Other councils may provide food or goods directly, or issue grants to third parties. Vouchers can be redeemed at a number of food outlets including supermarkets and foodbanks.

The HSF is different from the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF). The HAF programme provides free holiday club places with enriching activities and healthy meals to eligible children from low-income families. 

To find out more about accessing support during the school holidays, click here.

England

The HSF is only available in England at present. Below you will find the support available for every county in England.

Avon

For those in Avon, you can gain access to free support with money, including help with food, housing, energy bills, training and general wellbeing. You can apply here.

Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £2.9 million of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to support households in Central Bedfordshire between April 2023 and March 2024 with food, energy and water bills, and other wider essentials. Click here to apply.

Berkshire

West Berkshire Council has been allocated funding to assist with costs such as energy bills, food, clothing and housing in exceptional circumstances. Priority will be given to households who are ineligible for other government support and vulnerable groups regarding the cost of living crisis. Click here to apply.

Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council provides free digital food vouchers to families with children eligible for free school meals, early years’ pupil premium or a two-year-old funded free education place. If your family is eligible you will receive a voucher code from your school or early years setting. Find out more here.

Cambridgeshire

In Cambridgeshire, you are eligible to access support through the HSF if all the following apply to you (and your spouse/partner):

• Currently live in Cambridgeshire
• Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
• Have low income levels
• Have not applied within the last 3 months

Find out more here.

Cheshire

Cheshire East Council has loads of help available here.

Cheshire West Council will be allocating £15 per week for each free school meal pupil to ensure families have the necessary financial support for food during the school holiday periods. There is no need for families to apply for this support as schools in Cheshire West and Chester will distribute the vouchers to eligible families prior to the following school holiday periods. Read more here.

Cornwall

Cornwall Council has secured £9 million from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the HSF. The funding will mainly be used to provide one-off cash payments to help with the increased cost of living. The council is giving £160 per child to families with children eligible for benefits-related free school meals in Reception to Year 11. Two payments of £80 will be made, with the first payment being made in June 2023. A second payment will be made in November 2023. Payments will be made direct to families and you do not need to apply. Find out more here.

Cumbria

Cumberland Council has a limited amount of money available through the Household Support Fund to help people who are in financial crisis because of rising prices. Payments will only be made to help households in immediate crisis – for example, those unable to buy food, pay energy bills or buy other essentials. Click here to apply.

Derbyshire

Households facing financial hardship in Derbyshire can apply directly to the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund for help towards their food, and energy costs. Households can access up to three awards in a 12-month period. Payments are £64 per household plus an extra £20 will be provided for a partner or spouse, and each dependent child aged under-19. Click here to apply.

Devon

If a child or young person in a household qualifies for free school meals in term time then, currently, they automatically qualify for free school meal holiday vouchers from Devon Council. Households currently in receipt of free school meals are eligible for a supermarket voucher to the value of £15 per child per week during the school holidays to help pay for groceries over the break.

The vouchers will automatically be distributed to eligible households prior to the summer holiday. Find out more here.

Dorset

Citizens Advice in Dorset is managing some of the Fund on the council’s behalf via a voucher scheme. Supermarket vouchers of £150 will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within six to eight weeks of their application date. Applications are limited to one per household. Click here to apply.

Durham

Durham council has been allocated £9.3 million to provide support to low income and vulnerable households who may be struggling with their energy and food costs, or who need other essential household items. You should automatically receive help. If you haven’t, click here.

Essex

If you are facing hardship, you can get help with your essential household costs. The organisations on this page can help you to access support through the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund. You do not need to be claiming benefits to get support.

Gloucestershire

The DWP has provided Gloucestershire with of funding of £7,384,966. This will provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support, to help with significantly rising living costs. Click here to apply.

Hampshire

Households in Hampshire who are struggling to afford necessities such as food and fuel can get extra help from the connect4communities programme, funded by the HSF. Click here to find out more.

Herefordshire

Food vouchers will be provided for free school meal or pupil premium children during the school holidays. The vouchers are based on a minimum of £15 per week for each week of the holidays and schools should have organised directly with families who are entitled. Click here for more.

Hertfordshire

To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire Council has been provided with funding from the government’s Household Support Fund. This will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food. Click here to apply.

Isle of Wight

Those on the Isle of Wight can find out more about receiving food vouchers from the HSF here.

Kent

In Kent, you will be eligible for food vouchers if one or more of the following apply:

• Aged 16 or over
• Be permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley or Bromley)
• Be in receipt of means tested benefits or have a household income of less than £40,000 a year before tax
• Have less than £1,000 in savings
• Do not get means-tested free school meals for any of your children

Find out more here.

Lancashire

If you are a parent or carer of a child attending school (five to 16-year-old) you will receive an electronic shopping voucher from your child’s school. If you are eligible, and have any questions, please speak to your child’s school. Find out more here.

Leicestershire

Households with children are eligible for up to £20  per adult per week and £15  per child  per week (for maximum of two weeks). Single households can get up to £25  per week (for maximum of two weeks). Multiple adult households can get £20 per adult per week (for maximum of two weeks). Find out more here.

Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire has been awarded a further £10,929,370 from the HSF. Approximately 43% of the funding will be delegated to schools and early years providers to support for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals, early years pupil premium and families with a two-year-old eligible for early years entitlement. Click here to find out more.

London

Those in London can check with their local council to find out what support is available. Find your local council here.

Merseyside

Those in Liverpool can find a host of financial support and food help during the school holidays. Click here to find out more.

Norfolk

Norfolk was given £13.39m from the government to support residents who are struggling to pay their energy and utility bills. This includes support for single households, families with or without children, older people and disabled people. The council have also provided an extra £400,000 to support people further. Click here to apply.

Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils have different provisions for residents, depending on your location. Click here to find out what your council has to offer.

Northumberland

In Northumberland, the HSF can support with food, energy and bills, housing costs and more. If you are awarded a food e-voucher, you will need to go online to convert this into a gift card for Aldi, Iceland, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. Click here to apply.

Nottinghamshire

A total of £11.2 million has been given to Nottinghamshire to be administered by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with local district and borough councils. Summer and winter support payments, both worth around £100 per household (based on number of eligible household occupants), will continue to support families with children entitled to free school meals, as well as other households and individuals struggling with rising costs. Click here for more.

Those who receive Housing Benefits but do not also receive other qualifying benefits will not receive the national cost of living payments in 2023/24. The county council is using the Household Support Fund to make an expected payment of £450 to these residents. Those eligible residents will receive a letter from the council during the summer. Click here for more information.

Rutland

Those is Rutland may be able to receive a food voucher for households with school-aged children for the school breaks, a one-off payment of £100 to eligible households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support, or a one-off payment of £100 to care leavers. Click here to apply.

Shropshire

Shropshire has been given a grant of £4.1 million from the government’s national HSF Grant Scheme. Children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Shropshire will continue to receive support, usually through meal vouchers. Funding is for 10 weeks in total, which includes summer half term, three weeks of  the summer holiday, October half term, Christmas holiday, spring half term and the Easter holiday. This will benefit around 7,500 children, who will get an equivalent to £15 a week of support during these holiday periods. Click here to apply.

Somerset

In Somerset, you can get help regardless of your work situation, provided you show that you are struggling to pay for essentials. The Household Support Fund will not affect your benefits. Click here to apply.

Staffordshire

Education Settings in Staffordshire will be provided with £20 supermarket e-vouchers for their children that meet the eligibility criteria. Click here to find out more.

Suffolk

Where a child is eligible for income-related free school meals, families will be contacted directly by their child’s school regarding supermarket voucher grants, available to them during the school holidays from April 2023 until March 2024. Further information is available here.

Surrey

The county of Surrey has been given £10.6m of funding from the HSF. The council decided that £5,232,000 of the fund would be used to enable the continued provision of food vouchers to eligible children over the school holidays. Read more here.

Sussex

Those in West Sussex can apply for the HSF here.

Residents in East Sussex need to contact their local council for support. Click here to find out more.

If you are located in Mid-Sussex, click here for info on getting the financial support you need.

Tyne & Wear

Those under the jurisdiction of South Tyneside Council may be eligible to a single payment of £150 per household. Click here to find out more. 

North Tyneside has been awarded £3,219,996 to help the most-financially-vulnerable households in the borough over the coming year. Those entitled to income-related free school meals will receive £15 supermarket vouchers for each week of the school holidays per child. Click here to find out more.

Newcastle City Council will also provide food vouchers for those entitled to free school meals. Read more.

Warwickshire

Due to the limited amount of funds Warwickshire Council has available, it will prioritise items necessary for day-to-day living such as food, energy and water and particularly those who may not be eligible for other support the government has recently made available. Find out more here.

West Midlands

Applications for Birmingham City Council Hardship Grant Community Fund opened on July 31, 2023. The council will distribute grants of up to £200 to Birmingham households facing financial hardship. The funds are intended to help with food and energy costs. Click here to apply.

Wiltshire

Wiltshire Council has been allocated £5.4 million in round four of the HSF. The funding will be distributed through partner organisation and council departments. Families and young children can receive food vouchers and parcels. Click here to apply.

Worcestershire

Worcestershire City Council is supporting people who receive free school meals in the holidays. You will need to contact your school directly regarding the issuing of Free School Meal vouchers during school holidays. Find more information here.

Yorkshire

Those in the City of York will be invited to apply for the HSF. If you think you are eligible but have not been contacted, click here.

In North Yorks, you can receive food e-vouchers to use in-store and online with supermarkets. More information will be released in the coming months here.

If you are in the East Riding, your school should have already given you a supermarket voucher for the holidays. Get more info here.

Wales

The Welsh government recently axed support for those receiving free school meals. However, three district councils – Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Powys councils – have found the cash from their own budgets for the school break.

It is also worth contacting your local council, as they may have an allocated budget for this.

Scotland

If you get free school meals you may also be able to get help during the school holidays. To qualify you need to get one of the benefits in the eligibility section. You need to contact your local council to find out how to apply. This does not apply if your child gets free school meals due to only being in Primary 1 to 5. You need to also get the benefits in the eligibility section. Contact your local council for more information.

Northern Ireland

The post How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

This Pension Credit Awareness Week (12-16 June), the charity urges anyone over 66 on a low income, or their family and friends, to spend just 10 minutes on its free online benefits calculator or call its information line on 0808 802 2000, if accessing the internet is not an option. 

The quick, free and confidential online calculator helps people find out if they are eligible for all sorts of state benefits, including Pension Credit, which is paid in addition to the state pension and is available even if you have savings and own your own home. 

In the past year alone, more than 300,000 people over the state pension age of 66 used the Turn2us benefits calculator to find out what additional support they may be entitled to. One in seven of those (39,235 people) found out they were eligible for Pension Credit which, at an average of £3,500 per person per year, adds up to more than £137 million in extra state benefits found by pensioners on low incomes. 

Turn2us director of impact and innovation Michael Clarke said:  

“Research shows lots of pensioners don’t know Pension Credit exists, and many others rule out finding out as they assume they’re not eligible because of their savings or owning their own home. 

“The reality is a single pensioner getting by on an income of less than £201.05 a week, or a couple with under £306.85 a week, could be eligible even if they’re homeowners with savings of up to £10,000.” 

Additional help available

Known as a ‘gateway benefit’ receiving Pension Credit means you could automatically be eligible for other support, such as free dental care, extra payments to help with heating, rent or mortgage interest, and a free TV licence (the latter being available if you’re also over 75). 

Last year during Pension Credit Awareness Week, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that while 1.4 million pensioners in Britain receive it, £1.7bn is still left unclaimed. The DWP said that people are put off for a range of reasons, from wrongly thinking they’re not eligible because of savings or owning their own home, to not wanting to be seen as needing to claim, or thinking the process will be complicated or confusing. 

Sarah Pennels, head of financial capability at Royal London, said: 

 “The fact so many pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is worrying. This benefit provides much needed additional income but also means people qualify for help with rent, council tax and other bills and benefits because Pension Credit is a gateway benefit to other support.”  

If you think you might be eligible – don’t rule it out, find out – by using the Turn2us free online benefits calculator on its website, turn2us.org.uk. If you don’t have access to the internet, call the Turn2us information line on: 0808 802 2000. It is open 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. 

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TURN2US

The post Grants for the summer holidays 2023 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Over 8 million families in the UK on means-tested benefits will automatically receive £301 this Spring, and over 6.5 million people on disability benefits in the country will receive a £150 payment this summer. 

Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride says, “These direct payments will help people right across the UK over this year and the start of the next, as we continue to provide consistent, targeted and substantial support for the most vulnerable. 

Our wider support package, including the Energy Price Guarantee, will ensure every household is being helped through this challenging period of high inflation, caused by Putin’s illegal war and the aftershocks of the pandemic.”  

Exact payment windows and qualifying periods for eligibility will be announced in due course, but are designed to ensure a consistent support offer throughout the year. Payment windows will be broadly as follows: 

• £301 – First 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023
• £150 – 2023 Disability Payment – during Summer 2023 
• £300 – Second 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Autumn 2023 
• £300 – 2023 Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/4
• £299 – Third 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024 

There are several benefits that could make claimants eligible for the £301 Cost of Living Payment, including Universal Credit and tax credits – through which 5.4 million households across the UK are expected to qualify, and Pension Credit, through which 1.4 million pensioner households are expected to be paid. 1.3 million will be eligible through legacy DWP benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support, reaching a total of 8.1 million households. 

For more information go HERE. 

Also find out if you are eligible for this £1200 here.

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