Below is a list of organisations and authorities who are providing advice, grants and possible funding to support people during the cost-of-living crisis. The list will keep being updated as we come across further support or when details of grants and funding from the Welsh Government are published. Please see the different sections below. If anything is missing, please let us know by emailing gwen@allwalesforum.org.uk . Thank you in advance.
ENERGY CRISIS, BENEFITS, HOUSING
Scope Disability Energy Support
Free energy and water advice to disabled people, helping them to manage their energy and water needs.
https://www.scope.org.uk/disability-energy-support/
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
Cost of Living: Financial Entitlements – Frequently Asked Questions. The Commissioner has brought together helpful information to answer some key questions about the financial assistance that may be available to older people to help them through this difficult time.
Cost of Living: Financial Entitlements – Frequently Asked Questions
Warm Wales
Warm Wales is a CIC working to tackle fuel poverty by offering free advice and support (gas grants, eco funding) to ensure people across Wales and South-West England have warm and safe homes.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice is an independent organisation specialising in confidential information and advice to assist people with legal, debt, consumer, housing and with benefits, council tax reduction they may be entitled to. Find your local branch at the website link below.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/
Charis
Charis manages the energy grant and scheme offered by energy companies through Ofgem, check if there are any active schemes in your area and their eligibility criteria. E-On Energy Fund, E-On Next Energy Fund, British Gas, OVO Energy, SSE and others.
https://charisgrants.com/individuals/
Turn2Us
Turn2us has a benefits calculator and grants search tool to help you find out what support you can get alongside adviser locator tools. They also have information on benefits and information on help with paying energy and water bills.
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
Welsh Water
Priority Services
Welsh Water has a priority service for those who may be a parent with a baby, have an illness that requires water, have sight or hearing difficulties or are elderly or disabled.
Welsh Waters Priority Services Register means they can help with:
Bottled water if your supply is interrupted
Alternative ways of getting information
Reassurance against bogus callers
You can join the register by completing the on line form on https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/priority-services
Alternatively, you can contact 0800 052 0145 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
They also have advice, information and schemes to support those who are on low income and/or benefits. https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/support-with-bills
Care and Repair
Helping older people to live independently in warm, safe, accessible homes. Running the 70+ Cymru service which offers free Home Energy Assessments for people aged 60 and above in Wales.
https://www.careandrepair.org.uk/en/your-area/
British Energy Trust
British Energy Trust is an independent Charitable Trust. Its mission is to alleviate the detrimental impact of poverty, with a focus on fuel poverty.
https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/
Money Matters Hub – By Carers Wales
Carers Wales has created a new hub filled with resources to help support you with finances. It includes information on grants and benefits, as well as money and debt management tools and support with energy bills.
https://www.carersuk.org/wales/help-and-advice/money-matters-hub
Shared Lives Plus Cost of Living Resources
SLP has created a webpage with a roundup of information and resources about the cost of living which may be relevant to Shared Lives households.
Ask CPAG
Essential welfare rights information, advice and tools for advisers. The Fuel Rights Handbook is free to access and they have a section with financial help for families
Debt
StepChange
Step Change, the Debt charity have a page dedicated to information and support around the Cost-of-living Crisis and can provide free debt help.
https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/rising-cost-of-living.aspx
Breathing Space scheme
Breathing Space (sometimes called the ‘Debt Respite Scheme’) is a free government scheme that could give you up to 60 days’ space from creditors to focus on getting debt advice and setting up a debt solution.
If you apply and are eligible, all creditors are informed and must stop any collection or enforcement activity. You’ll still need to keep making your regular payments if you can afford to.
StepChange can help with applications: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/breathing-space-scheme.aspx
WELSH GOVERNMENT
Benefits
Many people are unaware they may be entitled to benefits that could offer them the support they need. If you are unsure about what benefits you can claim, Advicelink Cymru can help you check and claim what’s yours. Call the free helpline on 0808 250 5700
Find out more here: https://gov.wales/claim-whats-yours
Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
The Welsh Government with this fund is providing two grants.
Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
A grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:
- are experiencing extreme financial hardship
- have lost your job
- have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment
- You cannot use it to pay for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay.
Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
A grant to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property that you or they are moving into.
Use the grant to pay for:
- a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods’
- home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs
https://gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf
Cost of Living Support Scheme
A payment of £150 can be made to households in receipt of support Council Tax Reduction Scheme entitlement condition and households occupying properties in council tax Bands A to D. Some will be contacted directly from their Local authority but if you aren’t paying through direct debit or in receipt of support it may be worth checking if you have to apply through your local council.
Please check your local authority’s website.
https://gov.wales/cost-living-support-scheme-guide-local-authorities-html
Cost Of Living Support Fund for Unpaid Carers
The Welsh Government has launched a new fund to support unpaid carers in Wales during the cost-of-living crisis. Carers, who provide care for an adult or disabled child, will be able to apply for grants of up to £300 to pay for food, household items and electronic items.
Support services, such as counselling, financial advice, well-being and peer support will also be available. It comes as part of a £4.5m Welsh Government investment in the Carers Support Fund over the next three financial years, made up of £1.5m each year. We will share on our platforms the details of how to apply for the fund as soon as they are published.
https://gov.wales/new-fund-launched-support-unpaid-carers-wales-during-cost-living-crisis
Pupil Development Grant- Access
Learners currently eligible for free school meals can apply for the grant of £125 per learner, and £200 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.
The parents of children and teenagers eligible for free school meals in Wales can apply for a grant towards school uniform, school trips, and kit. The grant this year is for £225 per learner, or £300 for those going into year seven, to recognise the increased costs with starting secondary school.
Parents and guardians can contact their local council to check their eligibility and apply.
Both grants have been raised by £100 for this school year, a Welsh Government spokesperson said. All looked after children qualify for the grants, whether they receive free school meals or not.
https://gov.wales/pupil-development-grant-access
Full list of Financial Support for Individuals
https://gov.wales/financial-support-for-individuals
Free school meals for lower income families to continue in school holidays
https://gov.wales/free-school-meals-lower-income-families-continue-school-holidays
LOCAL SUPPORT
Aneurin Bevan Health Board area
Support with the cost of living
https://abuhb.nhs.wales/healthcare-services/staying-well-and-healthy/cost-of-living-support/
Blaenau Gwent
Local support and advice around cost-of-living, information and times of local Warm Hubs and more.
https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/cost-of-living-advice-and-support/
Bridgend
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-support/cost-of-living-support/
Caerphilly
https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/services/cost-of-living-support.aspx
Cardiff
Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/cost-of-living/
Conwy
https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Cost-of-Living/Cost-of-Living.aspx
Denbighshire
Flintshire
https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Cost-of-Living-Hub/Home.aspx
Gwynedd
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Cost-of-living-help.aspx
Isle of Anglesey
https://www.anglesey.gov.wales/en/Residents/Benefits-and-grants/Cost-of-living-support.aspx
Merthyr Tydfil
https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/resident/cost-of-living-support-and-advice/
Monmouthshire
https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/money-matters/
Council allocates £500k Cost of Living support to those who need it most. Find out more at the link below
Neath Port Talbot
The Hardship Relief Scheme is available in Neath Port Talbot to help you to heat your home more efficiently and to provide other measures of support to help with your energy bills if you are struggling. Please see the attached leaflet for more information as to the specific areas of support available.
The scheme is being managed by Warm Wales and they do have an 0800 number but please be advised it is very busy at the moment. The contact number is 0800 0911786.
More advice and information at the link below:
Newport
Newport Carers Network – For support in your caring role contact 01633 656656 or visit www.newport.gov.uk/carers for lots of helpful resources.
If you would like to receive regular carer information from us, please email community.connectors@newport.gov.uk and ask to join the Carers Network
General advice and support
https://www.newport.gov.uk/en/Support-and-Advice/Support-and-Advice.aspx
Cost of Living Support for Newport City Homes
https://www.newportcityhomes.com/advice-and-support/cost-of-living/
Pembrokeshire
Anyone experiencing financial hardship or who would like information about what support is available in their area, can contact the Pembrokeshire Community Hub on 01437 723660 or email enquiries@pembrokeshirecommunityhub.org
The Pembrokeshire Community Hub has also created an online one-stop-shop on the Connect Pembrokeshire website https://connectpembrokeshire.org.uk/ which has lots of useful information and an interactive map of Warm Welcome Community Spaces across the county.
https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/benefits-support-and-grants
Powys
https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/13329/Cost-of-Living-Hub
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Swansea
https://www.swansea.gov.uk/costoflivinghelp
Torfaen
Vale Of Glamorgan
Young people aged 11-19 can access the School Nursing service via text for confidential, anonymous health advice and support.Text: 07520 615718
More local support at advice at the link below
https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/Cost-of-Living/Cost-of-Living-Support.aspx
Wrexham
https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/services/help-cost-living
We are still building this post and will keep it updated as further support is available. We are also currently adding local information pages which will provide information specific to the area. If anything is missing, please let us know by emailing gwen@allwalesforum.org.uk . Thank you in advance.
