MILLIONS of households are still feeling the pinch – but there is help at hand for hard-up Brits.
Those struggling can apply for a range of schemes that provide free cash, vouchers and more and you could get thousands of pounds.
We spoke to expert Jonathan Chesterman about all the schemes you can apply for
Food prices are up by a whopping 19% on last year the latest official inflation figures show and energy bills remain high.
That means household budgets are squeezed, so checking what help you can get could go a long way to easing the pressure.
We spoke to Jonathan Chesterman, debt advice policy manager at charity StepChange, who has 30 years of experience helping Brits with their money worries
Here he explains six schemes that could boost your budget and how to apply.
Welfare assistance scheme – up to £1,000
Most local councils run their own welfare assistance schemes.
They’re available to people on low incomes struggling financially.
Grants can sometimes be worth up to £1,000.
Jonathan said: “Eligibility varies depending on where you live but these schemes are usually available to people on a low income who are in financial difficulty.
“Each local authority runs their own scheme with different rules.
“Support may include small cash loans or grants, food vouchers and free used furniture.”
If you don’t know what local council area you fall under, you can find out by using the government’s locator tool.
Household Support Fund – up to £1,000
The government is pumping a further £842million into the Household Support Fund (HSF) this year.
Each council gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the area, population, and need.
The money on offer to residents varies by location so you’ll have to check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you once it receives its new budget.
“This is funding which the government gives to local councils to provide further help to financially vulnerable households with essential food and energy costs,” Jonathan said.
“Households are advised to contact their council to check what support is available locally.”
Many HSF schemes are still being finalised but for example, residents living in Torridge can get thousands of pounds in support.
There isn’t a set limited on how much people can get, but struggling households could get anywhere between £600 and £1,000.
Each council will have individual specifications for how to apply for any support so it’s best to head over to their website.
Again, you can find out what council area you fall under by using the government’s locator tool.
Council tax discount – £2,065
Council tax is generally the most common household bill that StepChange clients struggle with, according to Jonathan.
The average bill is £2,065 in 2023-24 – an increase of £99 on the previous year.
Jonathan said: “Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to reduce your council tax bill.
“You may qualify if you live by yourself, or the only other members of your household are full time students, apprentices or are considered severely mentally impaired.
“You will also qualify for a reduction if you’re above pension age or someone in your house is disabled and the property has been adapted.”
If you are on benefits or a low income, you may be able to get a reduction depending on your local council’s rules too.
In some case you may be able to get your council tax bill wiped completely.
What support you can get depends on your circumstances and where you live, as each council decides what help to offer those in its area.
Factors that will determine how much of a discount you can get include your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits.
Check out our guide on how to get money off your council tax bill or get it wiped completely.
Cheaper broadband – £256
Another scheme you could take advantage of is help with broadband costs.
Jonathan said: “If you’re on certain benefits, you may be able to get a discount on your home broadband and landline. This is called a ‘social tariff’.”
Those on benefits can save up to £256 a year on avearge, though the exact amount will depend on how much you pay now and the discount you get.
The average broadband bill costs £33.35 or £400 a year, according to the price comparison website MoneySuperMarket – so it’s worth checking if you can save with one of these cheaper contracts.
We recently launched a tool with cost of living champions Nous to help highlight how much customers can save with social broadband tariffs.
Among the providers currently offering social tariffs are: BT, Now, Sky, Virgin Media and Vodafone.
Help if you have children – up to £2,000
You can apply for help with childcare costs if your child is under 18, and what you can apply for varies depending on your situation and the child’s age.
All working parents with children who are 11 or under can apply for the government’s tax-free childcare scheme.
With tax-free childcare parents, each earning no more than £100,000, can claim up to £2,000 per child per year.
Visit the government’s childcare calculator to find out what you might be eligible for.
For the full list of childcare changes announced in last month’s Budget see here.
Jonathan also added: “If you’re on a low income you may be able to get help from your local council for your child’s school meals, transport and school uniform.
“The amount given, and eligibility criteria varies by council.”
Just under 1.9 million pupils are eligible for free school meals in England.
Whether you are eligible for free school meals after that depends on whether you get certain benefits and your income.
We’ve put together an explainer on who can get free school meals and why.
Children from low-income families may be eligible for free travel to and from school – this includes kids entitled to free school meals, and families receiving the maximum Working Tax Credit.
Grants to help mums and dads pay for school uniform at the start of the new school year are available in many places.
Energy bill help
A service that can help struggling households is the Priority Services Register, Jonathan said.
It supports vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra financial support if you’re struggling.
Not everyone is eligible for the Priority Services Register. Your energy firm must deem you to be vulnerable.
You could also get help from an expert on ways to manage your bill or energy saving tips.
You could get better protection from fraud, though a service where you are given a password to help identify if callers are legit.
Jonathan said: “It’s free to sign up to and will help assess what specific support with energy bills that someone needs.
“You can find out more on Ofgem’s website.”
Ofgem says firms should be doing more to identify customers who are vulnerable.
But you can still get in touch with your energy firm or network provider to see if you can apply.
Struggling households can apply for grants and help from their energy supplier.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
