Government support
The Government offer a range of benefits depending on your needs. These include Jobseekers allowance, Universal Credit Employment Support Allowance and Child Benefit.
Find out if you can get Government funded benefits and how to claim visit the Benefits calculators.
Cost of Living Support - 2023 to 2024
You can find out what financial support is available for your household by visiting the GOV.UK Help for Households website.
The Government are providing further financial support for those most in need, including:
Cost of Living Payment: If you get any of the below benefits or tax credits, you may be entitled to up to three Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299:
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Disability Cost of Living Payment: If you get any of any of the below disability benefits, you may be entitled to a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance for adults
- Disability Living Allowance for children
- Personal Independence Payment
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- War Pension Mobility Supplement
Please note, you must have received a payment (or later receive a payment) of one of these benefits for 1 April 2023 to get the Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Pensioner Cost of Living Payment: If you're entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2023. The amount you receive will vary as it is based on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates. You will be sent a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you'll get if you're eligible.
Other help: You may be able to get other benefits and financial support to help with your living costs, including support from your local council. To find out more about the support offered by the government, visit the GOV.UK Cost of Living support webpage. To find your local council and see what help and support is available, visit our Borough and district councils webpage.
Visit the GOV.UK Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 webpage for full guidance on the payments for this year and eligibility for all payments.
Support with household finances
Depending on where you live in the UK, there are different schemes that could help:
Help with energy bills: The Energy Bill Support Scheme gave every household a £400 discount on their energy bills for winter 2022 to 2023. This ended in March 2023. A new Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas for households. The Energy Price Guarantee is automatic, it applies to all households and it is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households that you will have received earlier this year.
To help with energy bills, the government is also offering Winter fuel payments for pensioners, Cold weather payments, a Help to Heat grant and a Warm Home Discount. To find out more, visit the GOV.UK Help with your energy bills webpage.
Help with household costs: As well as the Cost of Living support payments, you may be able to;
- save money on your phone and broadband.
- receive help if you're struggling with your mortgage rate
- get direct support from your local council through the Household Support Fund
- help with paying your water bill
- help with paying your rent
- other benefits and payments
For full details and information on the help listed above and the other support available to help with household costs, visit the GOV.UK Help for household costs webpage.
Help with childcare: You could receive up to £2,000 a year (every three months) of tax free childcare for each of your children to help with the cost of childcare if you're eligible. You and/ or your child can receive;
- Funded Early Education and childcare for two year olds (FEET) - visit our Funded early education for two year olds webpage for more information and full details.
- Funded Early Education and childcare 3 and 4 year olds (FEET) - visit our Funded early education and childcare for 3 and 4 year olds webpage for more information and full details.
- Child Benefit
- Universal Credit Childcare Support
- Free school meals - visit our School meals webpage.
- access to free school holiday camps - visit the Active Surrey Club4 holiday activity camps webpage.
- advice, support and information from the Surrey Family Information Service.
For full details and information on the help listed above and other support available to help with childcare, visit the GOV.UK Help with childcare costs webpage.
Help with your income: Personalised job support is available through Job Help, tax relief and work-related expenses can be claimed from HMRC visit GOV.UK and search "job help". There's also other support available if you're struggling with your income including;
- Universal Credit - for those on low income, out of work or cannot work, check to see if you're eligible on the GOV.UK Universal Credit webpage.
- The National Living and National Minimum Wage rates rose in April 2022. Make sure you're getting the correct pay by visiting the GOV.UK Check your pay webpage.
- Pension Credit - you can get help with your living costs if you're over State Pension age and on a low income: even if you have savings or own your own home. Visit the GOV.UK Pension Credit webpage.
- help if you cannot pay your tax bill - visit the GOV.UK If you cannot pay your tax bill on time webpage.
For full details and information on the help listed above and other support available if you need help with your income visit the GOV.UK Help with Income support webpage.
Help with managing finances: Money Helper website offers impartial guidance and a range of tools to help make your money and pension choices clearer. If you're waiting for your first or next Universal Credit payment or experiencing a change in your income and want to try to keep on top of your outgoings, for example bills, spending or dealing with debts and need more support, the Government's new Money Manager tool can help. Money Helper gives you free, confidential money help that's quick to find, easy to use and backed by government.
Social Tariffs: Announced in November 2022 the Government have worked with internet service providers to provide Social Tariffs which are discounted broadband and mobile deals for people on Universal Credit and other benefits. To find out more visit Low cost broadband and mobile phone tariffs (GOV.UK)
Managing Debt
There are a number of local charities available that can give confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt. Visit the Connect to Surrey Support debt advice results to find one near you.
Breathing Space
Anyone with debt problems can get support, and space from creditors with Breathing Space. It provides temporary protection from most types of debt collection, and added protection if you are receiving mental health crisis treatment. Find more information about Breathing Space on our Breathing Space debt support webpage.
Universal Credit advice
Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs. More information can be found on the Understanding Universal Credit website or you can also call the Universal Credit helpline to get help making your claim online or if you need help applying for an advance payment. Telephone 0800328 5644 or Textphone 0800 328 1344 (open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm).
