Cost of living support

The rising cost of living is a real worry for hard-working and struggling households in Plymouth and across the country as a whole. This cost of living hub makes it as easy as possible to find help with rising bills and costs of living.

Here you will find signposts to support - from welfare benefits like universal credit to where to go to get help with gas and electricity bills. The hub also includes information on help with council tax, housing costs, how to access food banks as well as how to contact voluntary organisations working across the city.

Remember - if you are struggling you are not alone. There is no shame in asking for help. Everyone needs a little bit of extra support at some point in their lives.

Crisis support

Plymouth City Council is working with local organisations to provide support for residents of Plymouth who are in a financial crisis because of an emergency or other unexpected circumstances. 

Check whether you are eligible and make a referral for support

Citizens Advice Plymouth will be supporting households with occupants of pension age, and other households in need that meet the criteria* who access our service and are experiencing financial difficulty. Assistance will be available for the following:

• Food - eligible clients will be given £180 worth of supermarket vouchers
• Fuel - eligible clients with a pre-payment meter will be given £147 of top up vouchers
• White goods - eligible clients in need of an essential appliance will be helped with a new item, installation/connection, and old appliance removal
• Household furniture/essential items - eligible clients in need can apply for essential household furniture or items and wherever possible they will help with a new item
• Direct energy payment - eligible clients who are not paying for energy by pre-payment will be given £300 as a credit to their energy account

*Pension age clients are automatically eligible for support, and other households meeting the criteria can be defined by households with an occupant in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Council Tax Reduction
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• IB Employment Support Allowance
• IB Job Seekers Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Personal Independence Payments
• Disability Living Allowance
• Carers Allowance
• Working Tax Credit

Other households are also eligible if they are responsible for a child aged 18 or younger, responsible, or caring for a non-dependant, or if they are receiving money advice services from Citizens Advice Plymouth.. 

Household Support Fund Application Form

Help for Households - support available via GOV.UK

The government has created a website called Help for Households, and they have listed a wide range of support that is available, which includes:

• Income support
• Help with energy bills
• Help with childcare costs
• Housing support
• Help with transport costs
• Help finding work

You can also find out what discounts and offers are available from businesses to help with the cost of living.

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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