Cost of living support guide from Turn2Us
Cost of living support
A short, simple guide to help you with the cost of living from Turn2Us.
Find out what help may be available to you through benefits, grants and other sources of support.
If you are in an emergency situation, use our Emergency Information guide to get yourself stable, then come back to this plan.
Step One: Maximise your income
Benefits
You may be entitled to benefits, depending on your situation.
To check what benefits you might be entitled to quickly and easily, you can use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator.
The Benefits Calculator mainly calculates means-tested benefits. Depending on your circumstances, there might be extra benefits you can claim.
Depending on your situation, you may find the following information pages helpful:
Charitable grants
Help may be available to you through a charitable grant and other help, depending on your background, circumstances and needs.
To find out what help may be available from grant-giving charities, you can use the Turn2us Grants Search.
Money from local councils (England, Scotland, Wales)
Help may be available through your local council, such as local welfare assistance schemes, depending on your circumstances and where you live in the UK.
Councils in England, Scotland and Wales have also been given money to provide £150 to all Council Tax payers in bands A-D. People who pay Council Tax by direct debit will get this automatically. Otherwise, you may need to apply. Keep an eye on your council's website to check for updates (see council finder link in the first paragraph of this section).
Money for people in Northern Ireland
We don't have any information about whether people in Northern Ireland will receive any equivalent of Council Tax rebates or other help with the cost of living.
The NI Direct website may have more information on help available if you live in Northern Ireland.
Step two: Managing your budget
Draw up a budget
The government-backed Money Helper website, produced by the Money and Pensions Service, provides information on a wide range of financial subjects, including:
You can also contact them for money guidance that's impartial and free to use, whether that's online or over the phone. See the Money Helper: Money Guidance page for details.
Money Saving Expert
Money Saving Expert is a website with articles and tips for saving and managing your money, including:
- Budget Planner
- Cost of Living Survival Kit
- Heat the Human not the Home guide
Quaker Social Action Made of Money
Quaker Social Action Made of Money service promotes financial wellbeing through resources and training to help people on low incomes manage money better.
Debt
If you're struggling to keep up with debt or paying a lot in interest, it is important to get free, confidential, and responsible debt advice.
Water bills
Water companies have schemes to help people who are struggling to pay their water bill or who have fallen behind on their water bill.
Energy Bills
Energy companies have schemes to help people who are struggling to afford their bills.
Energy Saving Trust provides information on help to improve the energy efficiency of your home and so cut your bills.
The government has announced extra help with energy bills through a £400 payment to be applied to the energy accounts of everyone who pays an electricity bill in Winter 2022/23. How you receive this payment depends on your energy supplier and your bill payment type.
Help with phone, TV and Internet bills
There are discounted tariffs available for people on low incomes.
The Citizens Advice website has an If you're struggling to pay your mobile, phone, internet or TV bill guide (This links to the information for England. If you live in Wales or Scotland, choose your country from the drop down menu under the title of the page.)
Food
Read the I don't have enough to eat section of our Emergency Information guide for details of food banks and how to access them.
Health costs
Some people can get free or discounted prescriptions, help with travel to medical appointments, and help with the cost of dental services. See our Help with Health Costs guide for more information.
Extra help for disabled people
Getting a disability benefit can give entitlement to a range of schemes to help with the additional costs of living with a disability.
Household items
The Reuse Network
The Reuse Network is a national charity that works with reuse centres that stock high-quality, affordable household items including furniture, electrical appliances, IT equipment and more.
Are you looking for somewhere you can find affordable household items? find a reuse centre near you.
Advice and Support
Turn2us is unable to offer advice on individual situations. To find an adviser in your area to discuss your situation with, you can use the Turn2us Find an Adviser
This page is based on content that originated from the Turn2Us (adapted).
Find out what benefits and financial support you may be able to get
Use the government's online tool to find out what support you might be able to get to help with your living costs. You can get benefits and other financial support if you're eligible.
Check what benefits and financial support you can get
Continue reading
- Cost of living support
- Heating and energy support
- Food and shopping support
- Money and financial support
- Housing and homelessness support
- Mental health support
- Employment and training support
- Children, young people and families
- Help and support for carers
- Warm and welcoming spaces
- Crisis support
- Free internet and wi-fi access support
- Travel and transport
- Tips to help you save money
- Help from the government - view all of the cost of living support schemes that you could be eligible for and apply today
How to submit an organisation or community group to this website
If you are an organisation or community group and can help support people living in Plymouth, please complete our online form, and we will add you to this directory.
Submit your offer of help and support
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