All the help you can get in August worth up to £2,200 and you DON’T have to be on benefits
THE cost-of-living crisis means millions of people are feeling the pinch, but there are lots of ways to get financial help this summer.
From “kids eat free” initiatives, to bill reductions, we’ve rounded up all the programmes that will let you stretch your money that bit further over the holidays.
Of course, if you’re struggling, it’s always worth checking what benefits are available to you. Use the Turn2Us calculator see what you might qualify for.
But even if you’re not eligible for government support, there are plenty of other organisations such as energy and water companies that have cheaper tariffs for low-income families.
Here’s all the help that’s available in August and how much you could save.
Household support fund
You might be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or can’t afford to pay for necessities like energy bills, water bills, and food.
Some councils offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays, as well through the scheme.
Eligibility criteria varies by council, so you need to check your local authority’s website to see what’s available and how to apply.
For instance, Richmond Council says that it offers grants of up to £600 for families with two or more children, whereas Haringey Council says it typically pays vouchers worth £100 per household.
Local welfare assistance schemes
Most councils also have local welfare assistance schemes designed to help families in severe financial hardship.
Again, the eligibility criteria varies by council, and how much you can get will depend on your specific circumstances.
Most councils say they will prioritise families who need urgent access to food.
The support you get could be money, vouchers, or referrals to other organisations such as food banks.
Energy grants from suppliers
Most major energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
Eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
If your energy company doesn’t have a scheme available, you could consider switching to one that does.
Fuel vouchers
If you’re having difficulty paying your energy bills and use a prepayment meter, or if you use alternative heating sources such as oil, LPG, coal, or wood, you may be eligible for a fuel voucher from your local council.
A fuel voucher gives you credit for your gas and electricity supply without having to pay in advance.
You’ll receive a code in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add the credit.
You can use a fuel voucher at a Post Office, a shop signed up to Payzone or a shop signed up to PayPoint. You’ll need to take the code and a form of ID.
Help paying your water bills
Many water companies provide free water-saving devices to households to help reduce their bills.
Contact your supplier to learn about available assistance and visit the SaveWaterSaveMoney website for more information. You can also check whether you qualify for a discounted waterbutt.
GetWaterFit says that the average saving per person is £104 a year.
Kids eat free deals
In the school holidays, plenty of pubs, restaurant chains, and supermarkets offer kids eat free deals.
For instance, Morrisons is giving away 100,000 free crumpets this summer, from August 5 to August 25. To get the deal you just need to ‘ask for Ellen’ in any Morrisons café.
Meanwhile Subway is offering a free four-inch Sub, a snack and a drink which usually costs £3.50.
However, you need to buy a full price Footlong Sub or SubMelt which normally costs £7.39 to get the deal.
Asda’s ‘Kids Eat for £1’ deal runs in over 205 Asda Café’s all year round – not just during the school holidays.
Unlike with lots of the other deals in the summer, you don’t need to buy an adult meal to qualify.
Help with medical bills
You might be able to get help with NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).
To apply, you’ll need to complete an HC1 form, which can be done online or by post.
Food banks
If you’re struggling to buy food, you might be able to get a referral to a food bank. You can ask at your nearest Citizens Advice, through your local council, or by asking another local charity.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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