Grants and support for energy and living costs

We understand that there is a rise in the cost of living. If you are in need of support there are several organisations and government schemes that could benefit you.

Government support

The UK Government is providing a range of extra support which will be paid to eligible individuals automatically:

• Energy Bills Support Scheme: Domestic electricity customers in Great Britain will automatically receive a £400 non-repayable discount in their electricity costs from this October, through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. If you have a a prepayment meter you have up until the 30 June 2023 to claim your vouchers.
• Energy Price Guarantee for households: The introduction of a price cap aims to limit the price suppliers can charge customers. From 1 October, a typical household will pay on average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years.
• Cost of Living payment: A £650 payment will be paid by the department of Work and Pensions to most people on means-tested benefits, the first (£326) has been paid and the second (£324) will be received in November.
• Winter Fuel Payment: If you were born on or before 26 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 from the government to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a Winter Fuel Payment. The Winter fuel payment includes a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’ of between £150 and £300.
• Disability Cost of Living payment: From September, £150 will be paid to those on an eligible UK disability benefit.
• £2 bus fare cap: allows travel on some routes to be capped to £2 for a single fare, there is a list of all bus routes included in this scheme within the East Midlands on the Gov.UK website.

Loans 

Department of Work and Pensions offer Budgeting Loans.

A Budgeting Loan can help pay for:

• furniture or household items (for example, washing machines or other ‘white goods’)
• clothes or footwear
• rent in advance
• costs linked to moving house
• maintenance, improvements or security for your home
• travelling costs within the UK
• costs linked to getting a new job
• maternity costs
• funeral costs
• repaying hire purchase loans
• repaying loans taken for the above items

Help paying bills

Warm Home Discount Scheme: You could get money off your electricity bill for the winter under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you - it is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. 

Cold Weather Payment: You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you are getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. 

Citizens' Advice: You can find lots of information about energy advice and/or grants to help pay off your energy debts on the Citizens' Advice website.

Advice for energy use and rising costs

National Energy Action (NEA) provides independent advice on energy use and costs. Their additional help pages also provides information on other agencies who can provide support.

Our climate change webpages provide further information on how you can reduce your energy use and costs. It also has information on our current local home energy grant schemes, which can help eligible households install low or zero cost measures such as insulation and solar panels to reduce household energy costs.

Support with your water bill

Severn Trent Water has a Big Difference Scheme. If your household income is below £16,480 then you could receive a reduction to your water bill.

Debt and benefits advice

If you are struggling to pay back debts or need some advice on what benefits you may be entitled to you can visit our organisations that can help webpage.

To find out what you might be able to claim enter your details on the independent benefits calculator, and you'll receive an estimate of your entitlement to benefits.

Help paying rent and Council Tax

If you believe you could benefit from support with paying your Council Tax you can visit our help to pay your council tax bill and rent page and check the eligibility.  

There is also a Council Tax Support Fund that has been set up to support households with their Council Tax bills.

Community Grant

If you are a Voluntary or Community Sector organisation with a project that will positively impact our local communities you can apply to the Community Grant scheme. Applications run until 23 December 2022.

Further support

If you are over state pension age and on a low income, you may be eligible to claim for extra money help with your living costs through Pension Credit

The government have a handy tool to help you find the different offers that are available from businesses to help with the cost of living - including deals on groceries, utilities and entertainment.

If you are on Universal Credit you can apply for a Broadband Social Tariff deal that some providers offer at a significantly cheaper amount. You can find a list of the providers the U Switch website.

The Warm Welcome Campaign exists to support organisations in providing a warm welcome to everyone who might need a warm space this winter. They also have a search tool for anyone needing a warm space as it gets colder. You can register or find a space on the Warm Welcome Space website.