Help if you're struggling with living costs

• An estimated £15 billion of benefits are believed to go unclaimed each year
• Use a free benefits calculator to find out what you could be entitled to
• The benefits system can be complicated, but Citizens Advice have advisers available to help. Call 0808 278 7813 between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.
• Citizens Advice Swindon also run a drop-in service for residents at Sanford House, Swindon, SN1 1HE on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm and on Wednesdays from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
• If you are refused a benefit, you can seek advice on whether to challenge the decision. Many benefit decisions are overturned, and organisations like Citizens Advice can offer advice about challenges.
• If your benefit award is partially successful, you should seek advice before challenging it

• Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £218.15 a week for single pensioners or £332.95 for couples. It is a tax-free payment for those who have reached State Pension age, and live in Great Britain.
• The average Pension Credit payment is over £67.00 per week. This is an average of £3,500 per year.
• Around a third of eligible pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit, often because they don't know they can claim it or that they need to
• Find out if you’re eligible and how much you could get using the Pension Credit calculator and apply online or call 0800 99 1234
• An award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with housing costs, Council Tax, heating bills and, for those aged 75 or over, a free TV licence
• From winter 2024/25 if you claim Pension Credit you will automatically be eligible for an annual tax-free government grant to help towards the cost of energy bills. The Winter Fuel Payment is usually between £200 and £300 and is paid automatically to those eligible.
• It is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to three months, so long as there is entitlement during that time. This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment is Saturday, 21 December 2024.
• People who have an income or savings may still qualify for Pension Credit
• If you are entitled you might also be able to get additional amounts within Pension Credit. For example, if you receive other benefits for a disability or if you have caring responsibilities.

The benefits system can be complicated but Citizens Advice have advisers available to help. Call 0808 278 7813 between 10.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Citizens Advice Swindon also run a drop-in service for residents at Sanford House, Swindon, SN1 1HE on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm and on Wednesdays from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

• Whether you have toddlers or teens, check the Government’s Childcare Choices website to find out how you can save money on your childcare
• Over one million families are missing out on up to £2,000 a year per child – or £4,000 if their child is disabled – to put towards the cost of childcare
• Tax-Free Childcare is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability. The money can help towards the cost of holiday clubs, before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, and other approved childcare schemes.
• The government contributes 20% of childcare costs by topping up a Tax-Free Childcare account. For every £8 you pay into an account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year.
• Since summer 2023, parents who claim universal credit have seen the maximum monthly amount they can claim for childcare rise. Read more from Money Saving Expert (Martin Lewis). 
• Children aged two will have access to 15 hours of free childcare from April 2024, followed by children aged from nine months from September 2024. All children under school age will have access to the expanded 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025. Read more from Money Saving Expert (Martin Lewis).

• If Housing Benefit or Universal Credit doesn't cover all your rent, check to see if you can make a claim for a discretionary housing payment.

• Swindon residents of working age who claim means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), may be eligible to apply for Council Tax Support
• This could pay up to 80% of your Council Tax bill or 100% if you receive certain disability benefits. If you’re on a low income and over state retirement age, you could also be eligible for 100% support.
• If you or any member of your household is disabled, you may qualify for a reduction in your Council Tax
• Certain people living in a property are not included when Council Tax is calculated. That includes carers who meet criteria (and are not caring for a spouse, partner or child under 18). You can ask for these people to be "disregarded", which may result in a discount being applied to your account.

Check if you or your family may be entitled to benefits for those experiencing illness or disability. For example:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (for adults under state retirement age), Attendance Allowance (for those over state retirement age), and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) (for children under 16, for new claims) are not means-tested. The assessment considers the way that your health conditions affect your daily living and mobility needs.
• Receiving these benefits may increase entitlement to other benefits such as Pension Credit and Council Tax Support
• Seek advice if you are already claiming a disability benefit such as DLA for adults, as your award will stop if you claim PIP instead
• If you’re too unwell to work, you may be entitled to New Style Employment and Support Allowance and/or Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work or Work Related Activity
• If you or any member of your household is disabled, you may qualify for a reduction in your Council Tax

The benefits system can be complicated but Citizens Advice have advisers available to help - call 0808 278 7813 (10.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)

If you are turned down for a benefit, seek advice on whether to challenge the decision. Many benefit decisions are overturned, and organisations like Citizens Advice can offer advice about challenges.

If your benefit award is partially successful, seek advice before challenging as this can lead to awards being reduced as well as increasing or staying the same.

Citizens Advice Swindon also run a drop-in service for residents at Sanford House, SN1 1HE on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm and on Wednesdays from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

• If you are a carer, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance and/or an extra amount called the ‘carer element’ within Universal Credit
• This could mean £81.90 a week in Carer's Allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and you, the person you care for and the type of care you provide meets the criteria

Carers who meet criteria (and are not caring for a spouse, partner or child) are not counted as living in a property for the purposes of calculating Council Tax.

If you’re eligible, you can ask to be "disregarded" which may result in a discount being applied to your account.

• Contact your energy supplier as soon as you can if you’re worried about paying your energy bills, are in debt to your supplier or can’t afford to top up your prepayment meter 
• Your supplier must work with you to agree on a payment plan you can afford under Ofgem rules. This includes reviewing a plan you have agreed before.
• Get free and impartial energy saving advice from Warm & Safe Wiltshire (0800 038 5722) to help manage energy costs and keep your home warm. This includes free home visits to eligible residents to help lower your bills and keep your home warm.
• Read this guide from the Energy Savings Trust for ways to stay warm and save money on your energy bills 
• Free cavity wall, free loft insulation and free smart heating controls are currently available to Swindon homes in Council Tax Bands A-D through the Connected for Warmth scheme. To be eligible, your property must be owner occupied or privately rented. The award-winning scheme is fully funded by National Grid and delivered by a company called AgilityEco which has appointed Evolve, a Trustmark-registered installer, for the South West. Funding approval is subject to a suitability assessment and allocated on a first come first served basis. Register your interest using the online form provided by Warm & Safe Wiltshire, alternatively contact Evolve direct on 0800 292 2554 or e-mail: info@evolvehes.co.uk. 
• A separate Government scheme (Great British Insulation Scheme) is offering free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills if your home has an energy performance certificate of D to G and is in Council Tax bands A-D. Measures include cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation (internal or external), loft insulation, flat or pitched roof insulation, underfloor insulation, solid floor insulation, park home insulation and room-in-roof insulation. You can be a homeowner, landlord or tenant (either renting privately or from a housing association). If you’re a tenant, speak to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need their permission before any insulation can be installed. If you’d like some advice before you apply, contact Warm & Safe Wiltshire (0800 038 5722).
• Lowering your combi boiler’s flow temperature could save up to 5% of your gas use (Energy Savings Trust) and turning off your boiler’s preheat setting could save another 10% (the Heating Hub). Check which of these energy saving tips provided by Octopus Energy, Money Saving Expert (Martin Lewis) or the Government could help you reduce your bills.  
• Check if you’re eligible for the Priority Services Register - a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. That includes priority support in an emergency, help with meter readings and advance notice of planned power cuts. Energy suppliers and network operators offer it. Each keeps their own register, so you need to contact your energy supplier or network operator to get on it.

• If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to apply to them for a non-repayable hardship grant to help pay it off
• Find out whether you qualify and how to apply in this supplier-by-supplier analysis (provided by Money Saving Expert)
• If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you might be able to get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Families Fund (0121 348 7797) which offers grants of up to £1,500. These grants are available to anyone - you don’t have to be a British Gas customer.
• Contact Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7813 for help before applying for a grant. If you get advice, this will help your chances of a successful grant application.

• Call Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7813 (10.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday), if you’re struggling to afford enough food, to discuss options, based on your circumstances, which could include a referral to the food bank in Swindon or Swindon's Community Fridge at Gorse Hill Baptist Church

• If you are at least ten weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old, you might be able to get a pre-paid Healthy Start card which you can use to buy fruit, vegetables, milk and infant formula
• You can also use your card to collect free vitamins from distribution points across Swindon including: 
  • The Meadow, Leigh Road, Swindon, SN2 5DE from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • Grow Baby at The Pattern Church, Penzance Drive, Swindon, SN5 7JL on Wednesday, 9.30am to 11.00am and 12.00pm to 1.30pm
  • Community Fridge Gorse Hill, Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, Swindon, SN2 1AA on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11.00am to 2.00pm 
  • Sanford House, Sanford Street, Swindon, SN1 1HE from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
  • The Salvation Army, Chapel Street, Swindon, SN2 8DA from Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 4.00pm and Sunday, 10.00am to 11.30am
  • The Shop, Cavendish Square, Unit C and D George Hall Court, Park South, Swindon, SN3 2LZ on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm and Wednesday, 9.00am to 1.00pm
  • South Swindon Parish Council Offices, Gladstone Street, Swindon, SN1 2AU from Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 4.00pm and Friday, 9.00am to 2.00pm
  • Freshbrook Church, Worsley Road, Freshbrook, Swindon, SN5 8NU on Monday, 10.00am to 12.00pm and Tuesday and Thursday, 2.00pm to 4.00pm 
  • The Pantry, Beechcroft Road, Upper Stratton, Swindon, SN2 7QQ on Tuesday, 10.00am to 12.00pm and Friday,1.00pm to 3.00pm
  • Pinetrees Community Centre, The Circle, Pinehurst, Swindon from Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 4.00pm and Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm
  • John Moulton Hall, 32 Penhill Drive, Swindon, SN2 5DU on Monday, 9.45am to 12.45pm and 4.45pm to 6.45pm, Tuesday, 9.15am to 11.15am and 12.00pm to 4.45pm, Wednesday, 12.00pm to 4.00pm, Thursday, 11.00am to 6.45pm, Friday, 9.00am to 1.00pm and  Saturday, 9.00am to 12.00pm
  • Moredon Sports Hub, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon, SN2 2QJ from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 10.00pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9.00am to 5.00pm
  • Affordable Food Club, Chippenham Close Community Centre, Penhill, Swindon, SN2 5DB on Wednesday’s, 2:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Affordable Food Club, Goddard Park Primary School, Welcombe Avenue, Park North, Swindon, SN3 2QN on Friday’s, 1.30pm to 4.00pm
  • Haydon Wick Parish Council, Council Offices, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick, Swindon, SN25 1QQ on Tuesday's and Thursday's, 9.00am to 12.00pm 
• If you are eligible, you can apply online, call 0300 330 7010 (8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday) or email healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

• If you or your child receive certain benefits, you can apply for free school meals from Year 3 and above.

• Check if your child is eligible for free holiday provision through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme running in the summer and Christmas holidays

• If you’re in debt, seek advice early rather than let things spiral out of control. Contact Citizens Advice Swindon (0808 278 7813), StepChange (0800 138 1111), National Debtline (0808 808 4000) or Crosslight Advice (020 7052 0318) for help.

• If your water bill is more than 5% of your net income, you can apply for a 50% discount on your water bill through Thames Water’s WaterHelp scheme or call their Extra Care Services team on 0800 980 8800
• If you are on a water meter but finding it hard to save water because you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, Thames Water may be able to cap the amount of water you are charged for through their WaterSure scheme. To qualify for the scheme, someone in your household must receive a means-tested benefit and either have a medical condition that requires extra water or three or more children under the age of 19 living at the property making you eligible for child benefits, have a medical condition which means you need extra water, or have three children under the age of 19 living at the property, making you eligible for child benefits.
• In November 2022, the Council opened a fund to eligible households to apply for vouchers to help towards the costs of water

• The council's Emergency Assistance Fund provides emergency assistance to Swindon residents who most need it
• In November 2022, the Council opened a fund open to eligible households to apply for vouchers to help towards the costs of food, energy and water

If you have a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme could help you pay for:

• NHS prescription charges
• NHS dental treatment charges
• the cost of sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
• the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
• NHS wigs and fabric supports (check with your hospital for their arrangements for supplying NHS wigs)

How much help you get depends on your weekly income and necessary outgoings, plus any savings or investments you have at the time you apply.

• Check if you could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant
• Get in touch with Growbaby at the Pattern Church, Penzance Drive, SN5 7JL for essential baby clothing and equipment, free of charge

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband. They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price.

There are four million people eligible in the UK, but only a small proportion are on these special, long-lasting cheap deals.

• Current prices range from £10 to £23 per month
• Check if your current provider offers a social tariff. This list published by energy regulator Ofgem shows all of the social tariffs available now.

Help to Save is a Government savings scheme open to people receiving benefits including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit. Savers can get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years.

You can save between £1 and £50 each calendar month and do not have to pay money in every month. Someone saving £2,400 – the maximum amount that can be deposited over four years – would receive a £1,200 bonus from the Government, paid directly into their bank account.

In May 2023, the Government announced the scheme has been extended until April 2025. Watch this video and find out more about Help to Save, including how to apply.