Help if you're struggling with living costs

• An estimated £15bn 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, SN1 1HE on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 1.00pm and on Wednesdays from 2.00pm to 4.00pm
• 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

• Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £201.05 a week for single pensioners or £306.85 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 – equating to 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 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
• 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 (10.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday).

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.

• 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.
• From summer 2023, parents who claim universal credit will see 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 £76.75 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. 
• If your home is non-gas heated and has an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G, you could be elligble for free home energy efficiency improvements funded by the Government. You can apply if your gross household annual income is less than £31,000, or a member of your household is in receipt of an eligible means tested benefit. Improvements available include insulation, low carbon heating and solar panels.The installations are being carried out by a company called City Energy, appointed by the Government. Find out more at City Energy or call 02921 680951 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm) or e-mail: cityenergy@swfapplications.co.uk.
• 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. 
• Between 1 October 2022 and June 2023, the Energy Price Guarantee introduced by the Government, will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas. The amount you pay will vary depending on how much energy you use, where you live, how you pay for your energy and your metering arrangement. 
• 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
• In November 2022, the Council opened a fund to eligible households to apply for vouchers to help towards the costs of food

• 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, Reuben George, GrowBaby, the Community Fridge and Sanford House
• 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.

• Households earning below £17,005 can apply for a 50% discount on their water bill through Thames Water’s WaterHelp scheme or call their Extra Care Services Team on 0800 009 3652
• Eligible households can also apply for Thames Water’s WaterSure bill cap, capping the amount of water a household can be charged for, if you’re on means-tested benefits and either 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 £20 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.