The cost of living crisis is crippling peoples finances at the moment. It is never easy to manage budgets over Christmas and many people will now be entering 2023 with a sense of dread at the state of their bank balance.
To help you manage your finances WalesOnline has gone through the latest Welsh Government advice on the support you can get in Wales. This advice won't apply to everybody and you should always check if you are entitled to any benefits from the UK Government (you can still get support if you are in work). With every penny counting hopefully this advice can help you access the money and support you are entitled to.
Read more: How long can turkey last after cooking? How long it's safe to keep Christmas food in the fridge
Gas, water and electricity
Difficulty paying for your energy
If you are struggling with energy costs, contact your energy supplier. You may be able to get help from them.
Wales Fuel Support Scheme
The Welsh Government has more support to help towards paying fuel bills. Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 cash payment from their local authority.
The payment will be available to all eligible energy customers regardless of how they pay for fuel. This includes payments made on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit, paid quarterly or for those who use off-grid fuel.
The scheme will be open to households where an applicant, or their partner is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits at any time between September 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credits
- Pension Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- Carers Allowance
- Contributory Benefits
- Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Receipt of Carers Allowance includes those people who are being paid Carers Allowance and people who have claimed Carers Allowance but due to the overlapping benefit rules do not receive it as a cash benefit, for example they have an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance.
If a householder, or their partner who is liable for the fuel costs does not receive any of the qualifying benefits, the householder may be eligible for a payment if they have a qualifying person living with them.
Find out more about the Wales Fuel Support Scheme here.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The UK Government is changing the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme will give a £150 rebate to eligible households.
Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme on GOV.UK
Energy cost of living payments - £67
The £400 discount on energy bills is being paid to consumers in six monthly installments over winter. It started in October and the grants are administered through energy suppliers, without any need to apply.
The discount will start with installments of £66 in October and November, rising to £67 per month from December until March 2023.
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter. You can usually get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 26 September 1955.
Check how much Winter Fuel Payment you can get and how to claim it on GOV.UK.
Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.
You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time.
You’ll only be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment if you already get:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
If you're eligible, you'll get paid automatically.
Find out more about Cold Weather Payments on GOV.UK.
Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
In certain circumstances you may be eligible to a grant from the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF).
Find out more about the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF).
Energy cost of living payments -
The £400 discount on energy bills is being paid to consumers in six monthly installments over winter. It started in October and the grants are administered through energy suppliers, without any need to apply.
The discount will start with installments of £66 in October and November, rising to £67 per month from December until March 2023.
Water bills
If you are having difficulty paying your water bill, you should contact your supplier immediately.
Welsh Water, have outlined the support they can provide. Support includes payment plans and water rate reductions. Hafren Dyfrdwy can support its customers in a similar way.
Housing
Tenants
If you think you will have difficulty paying your rent, you should contact your landlord as soon as possible. By getting in touch, they may be able to help you. In some circumstances, you may be entitled to help with your housing costs.
Discretionary Housing Payments
Discretionary Housing Payments are available to both social and private sector tenants. Discretionary Housing Payments provide money in addition to any benefits you receive.
You may get this support if your local authority decides that you need extra help to meet your housing costs. To be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment, you must be receiving one of the following benefits:
- the old scheme Housing Benefit
- the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit
To apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment, contact your local authority.
Homeowners
If you think you will have difficulty paying your mortgage, you should contact your lender as soon as possible. By getting in touch, they may be able to help you.
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)
If you’re a homeowner, you might be able to get help towards interest payments on:
- your mortgage
- loans you’ve taken out for certain repairs and improvements to your home
This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Find out more about Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) on GOV.UK
Other support
If you are not in receipt of Housing Benefit or the housing cost contribution element through Universal Credit, but are of working age, on a low income and are struggling with housing related costs, your local authority may be able to assist to prevent you becoming homeless. To find out more about support you may be eligible for, please contact your local authority.
Health and wellbeing
If you are registered with a GP in Wales you are entitled to free prescriptions from a pharmacist in Wales.
You might be also be able to get free dental treatment, eye tests and help with other NHS costs. Whether you get help depends on things like:
- your age
- your income
- if you get certain benefits
- if you’re pregnant
- if you have a medical condition
Use this service to check what help you could get and how to apply. It usually takes 5 minutes to check.
Help with travel costs
If you need to travel to receive NHS treatment under the care of a consultant, you may be entitled to help with necessary travel costs.
You may be eligible for help if:
- you are getting certain benefits
- you have a low income
- you are 16 or over but under 20 and are counted as a dependant of someone getting certain benefits
- you are 16 or over and not a dependant of a person who gets benefits or credits. In this case you can make your own claim, even if you live with your parents. Read Low Income Scheme
If the patient is a child under 16, it is their parent's income that counts.
If you are not sure what travel costs you can get help with, ask the hospital before you travel.
You will be expected to travel by the cheapest means of transport which is reasonable for you to use.
If in the opinion of your consultant, you need someone to travel with you, your companion's travel costs are added to your travel costs. It will be your income that counts.
Claim a refund for travel costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment
Usually, an NHS hospital will give you your refund when you go for treatment. If this is not possible complete the HC5W(T) refund claim form. The form tells you what to do.
Get help with the cost of travelling to NHS treatment abroad
You may be able to get help with the cost of travel from home to the international rail terminal, port or airport where you leave Great Britain (GB). The arrangements are the same as if you were travelling from home to hospital treatment.
Regardless of your income, you can get help with the cost of return travel from the point where you leave GB to where you are going to be treated. Your method (e.g. air or rail) and cost of travel must be agreed before you travel. You should ask the person arranging your treatment about this. If a companion is medically necessary, you should ask about help with their travel costs.
Council specific support
Your local authority may have specific schemes to help people in your area with the cost of living crisis. If you put your postcode into this it will take you to your local authority website.
Get help with school costs for your child
Pupil Development Grant
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.
All compulsory school years are now eligible.
Families who are on lower incomes and qualify for certain benefits can submit a claim if they have a child in:
- primary school from reception to year 6
- secondary school from year 7 to year 11
All looked after children qualify for the grant, whether they receive free school meals or not. Pupils who receive Free School Meals due to transitional protection arrangements do not qualify for this funding.
Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year. The 2022 to 2023 scheme is now open and will close on 30 June 2023.
To apply for this grant please contact your local authority.
Help with childcare
Your local Family Information Service (FIS) provides free advice on childcare. You may be able to get help with childcare from other schemes:
- Universal Credit - Working parents can get help towards the cost of living, including childcare. Find out if you are eligible for Universal Credit on GOV.UK.
- Tax Credits - These help working parents on low incomes. Tax Credits on GOV.UK.
- Tax-Free Childcare - This provides help with the cost of childcare. Find out if you are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK.
Support for older people
Care and Repair provides information, advice and practical services that help older people in Wales stay safe, warm and well at home. They fit disability aids and adaptations, supply home maintenance services, help maximise income and access grants, and make homes safe to return to from hospital.
To find out more, call 0300 111 3333 (Croesawir galwadau yn Gymraeg / Calls are welcomed in Welsh). Even if you think that you do not ordinarily qualify for financial support you could now be eligible for some help with day to day living costs.
Debt and money
Banks, credit cards and loans
If you are unable to keep up with your credit payments, your creditors may agree to a short term payment holiday. You can request this, but creditors do not have to agree. Missed payments will usually be treated as arrears and interest may continue to be added.
If you are concerned about loan or credit card payments, you should contact your provider immediately. They may be able to offer you support.
In May 2021, the UK Government introduced the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space). The scheme can give someone, in problem debt, legal protections from their creditors. To access Breathing Space you will need to talk to a professional debt advisor.
Affordable credit
If you are struggling financially and looking to borrow you should always make sure it is from an ethical lender. Credit unions will only lend what you can afford. This helps to avoid further unmanageable debt. They are good for those who find it difficult to borrow from banks due to having a poor credit history.
Advice and support
There are organisations who can give help and support if you are struggling with debt and the cost of living.
Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides two types of grant that you do not need to pay back.
1. Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
This is 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.
2. 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. You can use the grant to pay for:
- a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods’
- home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs
You can check your eligibility for these grants here.
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