You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits.

There are 2 different types of payment depending on your circumstances on a particular date or during a particular period.

Cost of Living Payment

The first payment of £301 will be made between 25 April and 17 May, with a second payment of £300 in the Autumn of 2023. The third payment of £299 will be made in the Spring of 2024.

These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.

Disability Cost of Living Payment

You may get a lump sum payment of £150 if you’re getting any of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

If you have had a message asking you to apply or contact someone about the payment, this might be a scam.

£400 off energy bills for households in Great Britain from this October. This automatic, non-repayable discount will be applied in six instalments between October 2022 and March 2023 to help households through winter.

There is no need to apply for the scheme and you will not be asked for your bank details. If anyone contacts you regarding help with your energy bills and they ask for your details, then this is a scam.

Click here for more details on the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

In addition, you may be eligible for an additional £200 as part of the Wales Fuel Support Scheme. Click here for eligibility and how to apply.

New scheme announced February 2023 for Extra Care and Supported Living.

Domestic Relief Scheme for those that do not have a domestic electricity meter and contract with an electricity supplier.

This applies to tenants in extra care and supported living schemes for their personal energy charges. The website that can be accessed here states that tenants will still get support equivalent to £400 for energy bills from the Energy Bills Support Scheme but that they will have  to apply and that applications will open at the end of February.

You might be eligible for a warm home discount that will give you a one-off payment off your electricity bill. This will not have any effect on any cold weather payments you receive.

The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out.

The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

Eligibility

You qualify if you either:

• get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
• are on a low income and have high energy costs

Check if you’re eligible for the discount online.

Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters

You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.

Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.

From 1st October, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas for UK households. This is automatic and applies to all households. Beware of scams – there is no need to apply and you will never be asked for bank details.

This is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households.

Click here for more details.

If you live in Council Tax bands A to D you’ll get £150 back from your Council Tax bill.

For most people the rebate is automatic, however if you don’t pay your Council Tax by direct debit then you will need to get in touch with your Council.

You usually have to pay Council Tax if you are 18 or over and own or rent a home.  A Council Tax bill is normally based on 2 adults living in a property, however in some circumstances you could have your bill reduced.  You may be eligible to receive a reduction or discount for more than one reason.

You may be entitled to pay less Council Tax if:

• you live in a low-income household
• you live alone
• you are a student
• you are severely mentally impaired
• you are disabled
• your property is empty

Any discount or reduction to your bill is calculated by your local authority and you should contact them if you think you are paying more than you should.

You can find information on Council Tax discounts here.

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. Amid rising living costs, Ofcom is encouraging companies to offer social tariffs to help customers on low incomes.

If you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, you could switch to any of the tariffs available. Some providers also include people on other benefits such as Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Income Support. The person receiving the benefit will need to be the main person on the contract.

More information is available here.

Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce your bills if you’re on a low income.

In Wales, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water operate the HelpU tariff which helps low income households by putting a cap on the amount you have to pay for your water when you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

You can find out more here.

If you are struggling to pay a bill already received, Dwr Cymru can help in a number of ways. Click here for details.

There are a number of ways in which you may be able to get support in Wales.

Free School Meals 

Free Schools Meals are available to eligible pupils who attend school full-time in Wales.

To find out if your child or children are entitled to a free school meal, you can contact your local authority to find out more information and if your child or children are eligible.

Find out more from your local authority.

School Uniform Grants

Children whose families are on lower incomes and qualify for certain benefits (linked to existing eligibility criteria for free school meals) can apply for the grant of £225 per learner, and £300 for those learners entering year 7, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school. The additional £100 is for this year only.

Find out more here.

Free Breakfast Club

All children who go to a primary school which is maintained by a local authority can have a free breakfast at school, if their school provides free breakfasts.

You can ask the school’s headteacher and governing body to start providing free breakfasts if the school is maintained by the local authority.

If the school feels that enough parents and carers want free breakfasts for their children, they can ask the local authority to provide them.

More information is available here.

Support with childcare costs

The Childcare Offer for Wales provides up to 30 hours of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three and four year olds for 48 weeks of the year.

Read more detailed advice about the Childcare offer for Wales and other help towards paying for childcare that may be available to you, such as Tax Free Childcare.

Help with further education transport costs

You, or someone in your household, may be able to get free or subsidised transport during your course if you are:

• over 16, studying at your local school and travelling over a set distance to get there
• 16 to 19 and studying full-time at a further education college
• 19 or over or studying part-time

Speak to your school or college or contact your local authority to find out more.

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides 2 types of grant that you do not need to pay back.

Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)

A grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:

• are experiencing extreme financial hardship
• have lost your job
• have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment

You cannot use it to pay for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay.

Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)

A grant to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property that you or they are moving into.

For further information contact :

For the Carmarthenshire area, please call Emma Rees on 07773316151, or email emma.rees@caredig.co.uk.

For the Swansea area, please call Philip Burge on 07811990799, or email philip.burge@caredig.co.uk.

What you can use the grant for

Use the grant for:

• a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods’
• home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs

More details are available here

Helpful Links

Debt Management Advice

If you are need of support with debt you can contact a registered company such as Citizens Advice or Step Change.

• Citizens Advice website or call 03444 77 20 20
• Step Change website or call 0800 138 1111
• National Debt Line website or call 0808 808 4000
• Money Helper: Beginners Guide to Managing your Money website
• Money Saving Expert Budget Planner website
• Money Helper: Bill Prioritiser website
• Money Helper: Money Manager for Universal Credit Claimants website 
• Money Helper: Money Navigator Tool website
• Charis website
• Age Cymru website
• Help to Save – Government Scheme

Energy

If you’re struggling with your energy bills the first step is always to talk to your own energy company.

• Nest Wales  0808 808 2244
• Warm Wales 01656 747 622
• British Gas Energy Trust
• National Energy Action  08000304 7159
• Turn2Us: Energy and Water Bill Support website
• Welsh Water: Help U
• Energy Saving Trust: Advice
• Energy Saving Trust - Heating Controls
• Energy Saving Trust - Quick Tips

Travel

There are a number of ways in which you may be able to save money when travelling.

• Get 1/3 off train travel with a Disabled Persons Railcard
• Financial support for disabled drivers
• Help with travelling to an NHS appointment
• Armed forces and veterans support
• Job Centre Plus Travel Discount Card

Healthcare

• Support to help pay health costs including dental care and glasses
• Help to buy healthy food and milk for young children through Healthy Start
• Disability Grants
• Find a Food bank with Trussell Trust
• To Good to Go: Make sure good food gets eaten, not wasted
• Efficient Cooking Methods by Jamie Oliver

Miscellaneous

• Shelter Cymru: Defending the right to a safe home in Wales.
• Money Saving Expert: The latest cost cutting and money saving deals as well as topical advice from Martin Lewis.
• Advice Link Cymru: A Welsh Government funded  service designed to help people who are most in need of advice services, particularly those who would not usually seek advice
• Cwtch Baby Bank: provides essential equipment, clothing and toiletries for newborn to 24 month old babies through referrals from social care and health professionals.