Hundreds of families across the UK have been hit by the rising prices of energy, food and fuel as well as heating costs.
Here’s a guide to different financial support packages from the Government, Bradford Council and other organisations like Yorkshire Water.
It comes after the Council launched a campaign to offer advice on a range of cost of living crisis topics.
Advice includes information about government support; energy and bills; food resources; housing support; savings; scams and safeguarding; volunteering; looking after your mental wellbeing; things to do and other helpful websites.
Cut price broadband
The Government is working with broadband and phone service providers to offer social tariffs to those struggling to afford the costs involved.
Social tariffs offer cheaper, reliable broadband and phone packages to those on low incomes. For some, this could offer savings of around £180 a year.
To find out if you qualify, visit ofcom.org.uk/cheap-broadband
Help paying for childcare
- Tax free childcare offers working families, including the self employed, up to £2,000 per child. Those eligible include people earning under £100k and at least £152 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage); who aren’t receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers; with children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled). For every £8 paid into an online account, the government will add an extra £2 (up to £2,000 per child per year).
- 15 hours free childcare is available for families with two/three/four year olds who are receiving some forms of support. It also covers early education for 38 weeks. Equating to a total of 570 hours per year, it can be used flexibly with one or more childcare provider and can be ‘stretched’ using fewer hours per week, over 52 weeks. Visit gov.uk for more information.
Cost of living payments
- Further Cost of Living Payments will be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024.
- People on low income benefits will receive up to £900
- Pensioner households will receive a £300 cost of living payment
- Disability benefit claimants will receive a £150 cost of living payment
Read more: Dates for each DWP cost of living payment during 2023
Alternative payment arrangements
If you’re facing financial issues which affect your money management or leave you in arrears with rent, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may be able to offer Alternative Payment Arrangements.
This means they could pay housing costs of Universal Credit directly to your landlord, offering payments more frequently than monthly, or splitting payment between partners.
Visit gov.uk for more information.
Read more: New loan service launched to help Bradfordians during cost of living crisis
Warm home discount
The Warm Home discount scheme has been opened up to more people facing high energy costs.
The value of this discount has been increased to £150, providing rebates to one million low income pensioners and creating a new group of eligible households on low incomes.
Other government heating schemes include cold weather payments of £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between November 1 November and March 31, to all eligible households.
The winter fuel payments are available to residents born on or before September 25, 1956.
Visit gov.uk for more information.
Warm Homes Healthy People (WHHP) is a Bradford based organisation that can offer free help and advice to residents living in the district. Help includes staying warm, saving money on energy bills, nutrition and health, and debt issues.
They can offer practical help such as repairs to heating, food parcels, Winter warmth packs and emergency heating. As well as offering help and advice on switching tariffs, grants and discounts and debt and benefit advice, they offer energy saving device installations. Energy saving devices include low-energy light bulbs, draught proofing, reflective radiator panels and pipe lagging.
Yorkshire Water has various schemes in place for those who are struggling.
- Water Sure is a bill cap scheme for water meter customers. Eligible customers are those who claim an income-based benefit or Universal Credit, have a medical condition, or have more than three children.
- Resolve is a debt support scheme which helps customers catch up on previous water bills.
- Water Support is a bill cap scheme for customers who have a low household income and an annual water bill of more than £350.
- Water Direct is a debt support scheme for customers who receive a deductible income-based benefit.
- Community Trust is a debt support scheme for customers who have Yorkshire Water arrears between £50 and £2000, and at least one priority debt.
Healthy Start cards
The Healthy Start scheme is open to anyone who is more than 10 weeks pregnant or has a child under 4.
It can help you to buy items like milk or fruit, and get free vitamins. You need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify, though if you’re under 18 and pregnant you can claim this without receiving benefits.
Those eligible will be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. The regular benefit will be added onto your card every four weeks.
Read more: NHS issues warning to anyone who misuses Healthy Start cards
Low-cost food market subscription
The FoodSavers Network mixes sustainable low-cost food markets with easy access to a Credit Union.
FoodSavers offers high quality fresh and cupboard food for a low weekly membership fee (typically £6) at locations across Bradford.
Much of the food is unwanted or surplus, saved from being wasted. Membership also gives you the opportunity to attend cookery classes, save in a Credit Union and more benefits.
Other social supermarkets include the Company Shop and Community Shop that offer surplus food at low cost to members. You can find eligibility criteria and become a member on their website.
Other surplus food schemes include Olio and Too Good to Go, both mobile apps where customers can access surplus or leftover food from local businesses and individuals, free or at low cost.
Cost of Living Bradford
For more information, visit www.costoflivingbradford.co.uk or pick up dedicated booklets available at local libraries, community centres, GP practices, food banks and information centres.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “We know these are difficult times for most people across our district, the cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact on our communities.
“It can be hard to absorb all the information around the support for cost of living, what we’ve done is bring all that information together as best as we can in this one single website, alongside the booklet.
“We will continue to add information onto the website which benefits our residents in the coming months.
“We will be doing targeted campaigns on key issues like looking after your mental wellbeing during these challenging times, debt, the warm spaces scheme, loneliness and isolation, how to spot a scam, and how to look after your general health.
“I would encourage residents to share this information with family, friends, and work colleagues so they are aware and potentially help each other get through a difficult time.”
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